Versilia’s Carnival every year sees the parading of allegorical papier-mâché floats within a closed circuit of a few kilometres on the seafront: the opening complex of Gionata Francesconi, nine first category floats; five second category floats as well as ten «masquerades», that is groups of 8 elements with allegorical depictions almost three meters high; ten masks and three district floats.The first masked procession, called «Viva il carnevale» will start Sunday 27th January at 3.00 pm. Ensuing the pageant of the 3rd of February «Carnevale in Europa»; the 10th February «Gran Galà di Carnevale». On Shrove Tuesday at 5.00 pm «La pace è un mondo di colori», a special day in which an important initiative by the groups «I volti della pace» and «Forum Giovani» are included; finally Sunday 17th March at 5.00 pm «Il trionfo del Carnevale» the masked night time procession which will be followed by a great pyrotechnic show and the goodbye until the 2003 Carnival.
Our suggestion is to reach Viareggio by train. The train station is little more than a kilometre from the promenade, also because finding a parking place during the days of the masked processions is no joke, in fact it is nearly hopeless.
The sea promenade, where the masked processions take place, can be accessed through over 40 gates/ticket booths laid out along the perimeter of the closed circuit.
The cost of the tickets: full 10,33 euro, reduced 7,75 and free entry for children under six.
If you choose to enjoy the floats parade from the numbered stands the cost is of 10,33 euro on top of the entry ticket, whereas the non-numbered one costs 8,26 euro in addition to the entry ticket.
Read all the articles on the Viareggio Carnival
The Viareggio Carnival
A dive into the transgression of the Carnival
January.2002
:: TRADITION AND FOLKLORE :: FESTIVALS AND FAIRS ::
