Venice is famous for her large-scale, colourful, indulgent carnival celebrations but did you know that Tuscany has another hot-spot for a serious party every February? The Carnevale di Viareggio is, in fact, actually one of the most renowned carnival celebrations in both Italy and Europe, even if it is less familiar to some. So, if you are looking to enjoy a villa in Tuscany and a great party then you should book your stay in a vacation rental in Viareggio for this February!
The very first carnival event in the city was held in 1873 and was organised by a group of middle class men who created a parade of floats that were decorated with flowers. However, this then became a protest rather than a celebration, when citizens who were frustrated with rates of taxation donned masks to conceal their identities and made their opinions known. Fun once again took over from political action and the parade became an annual fixture in town, alongside other events as part of a carnival festival. While there were some years in which the carnival did not take place – namely throughout both world wars – the Carnevale di Viareggio became a key part of the town’s annual calendar and only grew and grew throughout the second half of the 20th century onwards. Today, it is a major draw to this gorgeous city on the Tuscan Coast and a great reason to book a holiday rental in Viareggio during the month of February.
Attracting a whopping number of more than 500,000 visitors each year, Viareggio’s carnival celebrations today involve both parties and the central event: a series of elaborate parades with floats and masked figures, which are usually depictions of well-known personalities such as politicians, sportspeople, and celebrities. This parade takes place down the Viareggio avenue, a 2-kilometre-long ring called La Passeggiata, which runs along the city's Liberty era boardwalk and beach. With a wild party going on and palm trees lining the street, it might seem a little like you’ve ended up in Miami and not quite what one might expect from a February jaunt to Tuscany but is sure to offer visitors a good time!
Taking place over the course of four weeks typically, this good time also involves a series of parties that occur in addition to the parades and see a different district of the city taken over by the excitement for a night each weekend throughout the course of the festival. These parties are usually masked affairs and can be held in the streets, in bars and restaurants, in nightclubs, and in other venues. A colourful way to explore the city, and to get to know it during your stay in a villa in Viareggio, might be to head to each district as it takes its turn to host the parties.
One of the key figures that you are likely to encounter if you find your vacation rental in Viareggio and come to attend the carnival celebrations is the official mascot, Burlamacco. A clown-like character who presides over the event, he was first created in 1931 by Uberto Bonetti for a competition specifically held to crown an official mascot for the town’s biggest annual event. Dressed in a red and white outfit that reflects the colours of the parasols traditionally found lining the beach and named for the Burlamacca River and with clowns being iconic fixtures of traditional plays in Italy, he is a perfect representation of the spirit and traditions of the event – even if you’re not a massive fan of clowns.
This year’s edition of the festival will have some events taking place throughout January, in the run-up to the celebrations themselves, including workshops for preparing masks and other key pieces for the floats and costumes, talks, and more. Then, the official event will kick off with the first of the parades starting at 5pm and ending with a fireworks display, taking place on Saturday the 8th of February 2025. On Sunday the 16th of February the second parade will be held, beginning at 3pm. Another night-time parade will take place from 5pm on Saturday the 22nd and yet another from 6pm on Thursday the 27th. Then there will be one more daytime parade from 3pm on Sunday the 2nd of March 2025 before the 6th, final, and closing parade on Monday the 4th of March from 3pm, which will also finish with a fireworks display.
Do keep in mind that those wishing to watch the parade from a point along the main Lungomare route must purchase a ticket to do so – a practice that was introduced to manage numbers and for the comfort and safety of attendees. There are various ticket options such as general entry to any specific parade, tickets with access to the grandstand for an even better view and increased comfort, open tickets for all events, discounted group tickets, and more.
Finally, it is also worth noting that there is a carnival museum in town, where you can see some of the fantastical floats and other pieces created for parades on previous years on display. This is open throughout the year so if you book a villa on the Tuscan Coast or a holiday rental in Viareggio during the summer or autumn or any other time, you’ll still be able to get a taste of this unique and fascinating local tradition.
Experience the tradition, colour, fun, and excitement of this special event and key fixture of the calendar of annual festivals in Tuscany by booking your villa in Viareggio and planning your trip today – there’s still time to book for this year and to have something to look forward to and to brighten up your January so don't wait!
