Viareggio Carnevale 2015

Carnevale in Italy is a traditional festival celebrated with lavish parades, masquerade balls, music and entertainment.

We try to visit Italy every February and this year was no different....staying in nearby Lucca we made the cheap and easy train journey to Viareggio last Sunday, for its famous carnival.

The excitement began as soon as we stepped of the train, crowds of people filled the platforms, most unlike us were in fancy dress. To find our way to the carnival, we followed the many colourful characters down towards the towns seafront and what will be the stage for the days main event.

After paying the 18 euro entry fee at a little kiosk and trading our ticket in for a paper wrist band, we made our way past the many food stalls and street sellers sharing confetti (for a small fee of course), By the time we had navigated our way onto the decorated promenade I was deep in awe at the detailing of the first float I had spotted untill three very loud bangs rung out giving me a fright and signaling the start of the parade.

The giant Papier-mâché floats take an entire year to create and are mainly political or religious satire, poking fun at domestic and world politics and each having its own theme. With groups of masked performers, who sing, dance and throw sweets or confetti at the crowd, its a street party of epic proportions!

For me half the fun was try to work out which each float represented, with the carnival floats ranging from Angela Merkel giving birth to goblins, lead by a group of giant sperm dancing to a giant dinosaur and a fantastically detailed elephant which not only blinked and moved but played the Lion King theme tune!


It may not be Venice or Rio but Viareggio holds its own in the carnival stakes and I definitely wont be the only one to tell you its well worth a visit. If I've got you tempted and you fancy heading to it next year the dates are........Sunday 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of February.

Did you visit Viareggio this years for its carnival, If so I would love to hear which was you favourite float?