The Carnival of Viareggio 2016!

The most famous Italian carnival, together with the Venetian one, is held in Viareggio. From 7th of February to 5th March 2016

Together with the Venetian Carnival, it is the most famous Italian carnival. And it the most ancient carnival in Italy, as well. The idea of a celebration held through the streets instead of inside theatres or in the halls of the city palaces was first conceived by a group of wealthy people from Viareggio in 1873, when they organized a parade of carriages decorated in flowers and masks.

The great Carnival of Viareggio will thus celebrate its 143nd Anniversary in February 2016. The event will start on Sunday the 7th of February at 3 p.m., then the other floats will follow (on the 14th, 21th and 28th of February) until Saturday the 5th of March, when the event will end with the suggestive masked float that will take place by night from 6:30 p.m., after which the winners of the prizes for the best floats and masks will be announced.

For this special occasion, over 800 thousand people usually come to Viareggio and crowd along the three kilometer promenade that faces the sea to enjoy the famous 20-meter-high floats and masks –real works of art- in paper-pulp.

14 wagons, masked Group 9, 20 individual masks. On board the wagons dance up to 250 contained in the mask.

Among the characters of satirical wagons of this year, Renzi, Salvini and Zuckerberg.
The carnival is celebrated in every district of Viareggio, as well: for this occasion live music shows, dance performances and live cookery demonstrations -where it is possible to taste the typical dishes of Viareggio- take place.