The Whale :too much rubbish in the sea

Carnival in Italy is such a significant time in the year, and we have so many things to say about it, and today we talk about the Carnival of Viareggio.

If you are from Florence, you’ve been at least once in Viareggio for the Carnival parade.

Viareggio is a renowned seaside resort: a unique ensemble featuring pinewoods, a picturesque harbour, shipyards and a promenade.

The birth of the first bathing establishment dates back to 1823.  In fact, the touristic activity began in Viareggio right in this period, and so it has beautiful ancient tradition hotels and buildings: the long Promenade, where the parade takes place, is characterised by shops, cafes,  and Liberty style buildings.

Symbol of the Carnival of Viareggio

The Carnival of  Viareggio, born at the end of  1800, lasts a whole month with daytime and nighttime festivities with parades of allegorical floats, local parties, masked balls and festivals of all kinds.

Frieda:her energy to change

The Carnival of Viareggio is an event for young and old, a fun show with lots of music and party people. The most fascinating moment of the Carnival is the papier-maché floats: colossal and suggestive. They refer to themes of Italian and international politics and current events, which are represented in a satirical key and depict political sporting and entertainment figures.The allegorical floats are accompanied by music, dancers and characters.The  Maestri Costuttori /Masters of Viareggio, artists who are handed down from generation to generation the secrets of this work, make huge structures but at the same time light with tons of newspaper kneaded with glue.

 If you are in Tuscany next winter the floats parades are 

VIAREGGIO CARNIVAL 2020 Saturday 1 – Sunday 9 – Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 and Tuesday 25 February

 If you are in Tuscany before then, do not miss a visit to Viareggio and the Museum of the Carnival

In 2001 was inaugurated the new Cittadella del Carnevale , an extraordinary architectural complex entirely dedicated to the creation and preservation of the Carnival of Viareggio.

 In the museum of the Carnival, visitors can discover all the secrets and the threats of papier – mâché world. Here visitors can find a teaching stand where the different stages of the construction of papier – maché works are explained. Visitors can also try to manipulate clay and paper to experience the art of manufacturing.

Sixteen Hangars, where the allegorical floats are built, overlook on a giant elliptical square. The Cittadella is also the place where during the summer the major outdoor events take place. Here visitors can find two museums, one dedicated to the history of the Carnival floats and the other to Carnevalotto, a valuable collection of works of art created by contemporary designers