Carnival in Viareggio

The Carnival celebrations in the Tuscan seaside town of Viareggio hold an international importance, for they are characterized by parades of some of the world’s largest moving floats. These spectacular parades are held every Sunday of the Carnival season, which this year runs from February 5 to March 3. The floats are handmade, constructed with papier-mâché, and feature caricatures of politicians and celebrities, who are animated by movement and by music and performers. Spectators, garbed in costumes and masks, dodge the showers of confetti and silly string raining down from the floats, which travel down a three kilometer stretch of the beachside boulevard.

All parades begin at 3 pm, with the exception of the final parade on March 3, which commences at 7 pm.

Entrance to the event costs 15 euros.

Viareggio can be easily reached from Florence by train.

For further information, go to http://www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com