Giant Allegorical Floats Return To Viareggio Carnival


The enormous, colorful papier-mâché floats have returned to the coastal city of Viareggio for the 150th edition of its spectacular carnival.

After two years of pandemic restrictions, the event is back in all its extravagant glory.

Costumed crowds line the seaside promenade for the much-anticipated float parade for which the Tuscan town on Italy’s western coast is famed.

The giant, animated sculptures may be vibrant and comedic, but they also serve up scathing political criticism and serious social commentary.

Preceded by hundreds of dancers and performers in exotic costumes, the parade follows a 2km route down Liberty Seaside Boulevard.

Viareggio’s animated, allegorical floats

The carnival floats on a giant scale are magnificent works of art towering some 20 meters above the crowds. They are made with papier-mâché and internal machinery to animate various parts.

During winter, shipbuilders, theater technicians and artists spend weeks in workshops realizing the magical, satirical sculptures.

The construction site is now concentrated in the Cittadella del Carnevale, a complex inaugurated in 2001 which also houses a museum.

As much as four million euros are spent on the building of the carnival floats each year, much of which is generated from ticket sales.

Humorous and caricature-like, the oversized figures comment on topical issues.

This year, an enormous gorilla with moving eyes, arms and torso displaying military medals is entitled “The evolution of the species.” It represents the dominance and aggression of man over nature.

“Armed Peace” features a young girl wearing a helmet and gas mask. As she opens her cloak, she reveals a flag of peace lining representing the renewal of hope.

There is a competition for the best carnival float and the constructions are sorted into four categories depending on their base size and height.

A 150-year-old carnival

This year, Viareggio Carnival celebrates its 150th anniversary. The festival first took place in 1873 and is thought to have originated as a small-scale but fiercely felt local defiance against the nobility of nearby Lucca, who descended to the coast during the winter season.

Now, hundreds of thousands of spectators from across Italy and further afield come to celebrate what is one of the country’s most popular festivals.

The final parade of Viareggio Carnival will take place on February 25.



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