As we all get through January post the fun and celebrations of the festive season, it is nice to have something exciting to look forward to and, if you are considering a vacation in Italy in the new year but are not sure when to visit, then an Italian adventure to enjoy carnival might just be the thing!
Carnival – or carnevale in Italian – is an annual period of parades, parties, and celebrations that is held in various Catholic countries between the religious holidays of Epiphany and Easter, at some point between January and March (depending in when Easter falls that year). Italy is still a very Catholic country and, therefore, is home to some of the most renowned carnevale celebrations in the entire world. So, book a holiday rental in Italy this February and come join in on all of the fun!
Coming from the Latin words, "carnem levare", which refer to the practice of abstaining from meat and/or fasting that is common of some members of the Catholic church during Lent (the period of 40 days leading up to Easter), carnival is the last bit of indulgence before this time of sacrifice begins. While many today do not fully give up meat or fast during this time, it is still common for people to see this as a period of spiritual reflection and a time in which they may choose to abstain from something else that they really enjoy, like alcohol, chocolate, sweets, or other worldly pleasures.
If you are thinking about spending your Lent being disciplined and are hoping for a last hurrah before that begins or if you personally have nothing to do with the Catholic church but love a great party, therefore, carnival is likely to be a pretty appealing idea. Those who book a vacation rental in Italy during this time will be happy to note that Italy has a particularly long and interesting tradition of hosting some of the wildest, most colourful, most unique, and most fun carnival festivals in the entire world.
The most famous of these has to be the carnival celebrations that take place in Venice each year – making it a perfect time to book a villa in Venice. Masked balls with elaborate costumes are an iconic image of the city and these trace their origins back to this traditional festival. In Venice, the carnival festival is said to have begun in 1162 following the victory of the Serenissima Repubblica before being popularised in the Renaissance and then made famous all over the world in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Those famous masks that are so central to our image of Venice and the Venice Carnival itself were actually outlawed at the end of the 18th century by the last Holy Roman Emperor (and later the first Emperor of Austria as Francis I), Francis II. Later, in the 19th century, both the festival and masks were reintroduced and the Italian government formally made carnevale an official festival in the city in order to promote its history and culture in 1979.
Today, millions visit for the celebrations each year to take in the parades, street performances, parties, masked balls, and to attend the famous La Maschera Più Bella, an event at which fashion designers and other fashion experts judge attendees to find who has the most beautiful mask.
Speaking of masks, those interested in these wonderful creations can browse shops and find both inexpensive souvenirs and exquisite hand-crafted examples that are still made locally by artisans to wear or to hang up at home as decorations and as mementos of their trip. You can choose between traditional examples and styles including the Bauta, Colombina, Medico della Peste, Morelta, and Volto and contemporary creations. Candlelit balls in gorgeous costumes held across town during the festival are, of course, the best way to break these in and an unforgettable experience if you book a vacation rental in Venice or a holiday rental in Veneto and come into the city for a day or two.
After Venice, the next most renowned city for her carnival celebrations in Italy is Viareggio, in Tuscany. First celebrated in the city in 1873 and with a parade of floats decorated in flowers that was hijacked by masked citizens who were frustrated with taxes in town, it went on to become a key annual fixture in town and grew massively throughout the 20th century. Today, more than 500,000 visitors a year come for the festival, particularly the series of parades that take place over the course of four weeks. In addition to this, a different district of the city is taken over by the excitement for a night each weekend throughout the course of the festival and hold parties, including masked events, in the streets, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other spaces. So, book a villa in Viareggio and enjoy the incredible floats, exciting parties, colour, music, and joy while also getting to know this gorgeous town on the Tuscan Coast!
Other towns that have carnevale celebrations for those who book a vacation rental in Tuscany and want to do a bit of a tour include San Gimignano, Vicchio, Borgo San Lorenzo, Florence, Foiano della Chiana, Follonica, Piombino, Marlia, and Bibbiena. Many smaller towns and localities, however, will also have various events taking place at this time of the year.
Within Italy at large, it likely comes as no surprise that there are also other key carnevale celebrations held each year. One of the best known among these is Ivrea, a town in the northern region of Piedmont, which is famous for its rather unique carnival event that you may know of, the Battle of the Oranges. The largest food fight in Italy and her neighbours, the origin of this tradition is rooted in local myth and a tale about the city rising against a ruling tyrant in the middle ages who was killed by young commoner when he tried to assault her on the night before her wedding. Today, the battle takes place between the aranceri on foot, who throw oranges in place of weapons and represent the locals of the time of the tale, and the aranceri in carts, who represent the tyrant’s men. Thousands of local compete, divided into nine teams, and throw oranges at each other on the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, with everything finished up on Shrove Tuesday evening. So, to experience this incredible food battle and a unique carnival celebration, just book your villa in Piedmont.
Those who book a vacation rental in Apulia, meanwhile, can head to Putignano’s carnival. Although, for this version, you will need to plan to visit earlier in the year. Dating back to the 14th century, it is one of the oldest carnival celebrations in Europe, and, as it kicks off on the 26th of December each year and continues every Thursday until the feast day of St. Anthony the Great on the 17th of January, it is also one of the lengthiest carnival celebrations in the world. For this year, it is too late to plan a trip but if you’re looking for carnival fun while enjoying the mild winter weather of the area then a holiday in Apulia might be a good idea.
Finally, while there are many other carnival events around Italy, the last famous and significant example is for those who book a vacation rental in Sicily and takes place in Acireale, on the coast, in the north-east of the Metropolitan City of Catania. This version specialises in a parade that features truly remarkable floats, which are often fully decorated in fresh flowers. Replacing a far less charming earlier tradition from back in the 16th century of throwing rotten eggs and lemons that was ultimately banned, the lovely flower floats leave the whole town looking and smelling wonderful. Considered Sicily’s best carnival, it is now also replicated in August to allow locals and visitors alike another opportunity to enjoy the event but in the summer weather. This also means that those choosing to book a holiday rental in Sicily for both later winter/early spring sun and those who want to plan a sizzling summer break can enjoy this blooming beautiful experience!
Local celebrations also happen all throughout Italy for carnevale so you’ll have plenty of chances to join in the fun if you vacation in Italy at this time of the year. The above examples are simply some of the best-loved and most well-known examples that you won’t want to miss if you really want to get the full experience. Leave January Blues far behind and warm yourself up with a serious party on holiday in Italy this year!