On January 31, Tuscany kicks off the Carnevale season in piazza Mazzini in Viareggio. Now in its 142nd year, Viareggio Carnevale is one of the region’s most highly anticipated events, marking the days leading up to the Christian tradition’s austere season of Lent.
The opening ceremony will begin at 3:30pm, when 50 flag throwers from Contrada Sant’Anna in Piaggia di Lucca show off their skills as they parade onstage. Next up is a show of gymnastics by the Stella Azzurra society. Dancer Francesco Mariottini will then entertain the public and offer an open lesson.
By 5:30 pm, the traditional Carnevale entertainment will begin: the top three winners of the Clown Festival (January 29 in Teatro Politeama) will perform onstage, followed by tenor Denis Dallan, who will help get audiences in the spirit with some of the top Carnevale tunes. The next day, the first of many masquerades makes its way down the beach town’s promenade.
Photo by Caterina Chimenti
To follow everything Carnevale-related, see the full program at www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com.
