Viareggio Carnival 2011

The parade of Viareggio, a tradition that dates back to 1873

when a few rich families decided to dress up in protest against taxes: between the youngs of the city was born the idea of a parade of carriages, which immediately took character to mock, in line with the ancient tradition of carnival that aims to put expose and exorcise society's problems.

In the February 1873 "Fat Tuesday", was born the spectacular Viareggio Carnival,  known today as one of the most beautiful and greatest event in the world.
No doubt one of the best known events in Italy.
In 2011, the usual five carnival masked parades are planned for February 20th , 27th and March 6th- 8th 13th , on the extraordinary Liberty style staging along the seaside avenues of Viareggio. Every evening, there are carnival celebrations in all of the city’s different quarters.
Viareggio Carnival’s peculiarity consists in giant, allegorical papier-maché floats - the biggest ones weighing about forty tons each - and expresses nowadays the old knowledge going back to the ancient ‘trionfi’ (war-victory feastings) of the Renaissance, adhering even more to the building techniques of the big sailing ships, a pride of Viareggio traditions.
Real travelling theatres - the allegorical papier-maché floats are the product of the unequalled creativity, of the extraordinary sculpture and painting skill of Viareggio ‘magicians’, and are the highest example of this popular art whose language has spread all over the world.
The parades take place in a ring-like circuit 2 km. long, on the seaside avenues of Viareggio, best known as La Passeggiata.
Here the floats move among the spectators, who can attend the show with no barriers, becoming in turn the protagonists of the parade.
During the Carnival period, Viareggio and his Passeggiata change into a true open air Museum where people coming from all over the world meet to enjoy together.
The parades also include folkloristic bands and performers with the most original masks, offering excitement, culture and tradition in a wide programme of entertainment and fun for children and adults.
For more information.
http://www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/