Viareggio Carnival poster 2007 © Fondazione di Carnevale Viareggio
Arts Council of England Funding Logo © ACE

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This web site is an ongoing project of Claire Kay funded by the Arts Council of England (ACE) during 2007. I have successfully finished my visit to Viareggio.

I had an opportunity to join the Isle of Wight Mas band who performed at both the inauguration and the 1st main procession. I performed at the inauguration on Saturday 3rd February 2007.

I would like to thank the Cinquini family for the opportunity to visit their workshop and spend some time helping to repair their mascherate in gruppo which were specially produced for the finale of the Torino Winter Olympics 2006. Which are having a further public outing during the final 4 parades.


The Carnival of Europe 2007

Viareggio Carnival takes place every year in the beautiful historical town of Viareggio on the Italian Riviera, Tuscany. The carnival season runs during the whole of the period of lent with a parade taking place every weekend during February this years dates being the Sun 4, Sun 11, Sun 18, Sun 20 and Sun 25.

Floats being positioned before the start of the parade along "Viali a Mare"

The parades start with an inauguration parade on Saturday 3rd February, starting in the town square and then parading around the "Viali a Mare". The type of carnival produced in Viareggio is unique to Italy, where large structures are built from Maschere - Italian Papier Maché. The floats range from twice the height of a man to 5 or 6 storeys high and are fully animated. You will find in depth information about the design and production of these floats in the site, please take time to enjoy the pictures and information.

Viareggio has a long history of ship and boat manufacturing, and you can still see the "Super Yachts" being manufactured today in the factories near the harbour, sometimes during the summer ships can be seen being worked on using floating dry docks just off shore..

Chalet Martini the only original surviving wooden building on the Esplanade Villino "Amor omnia vincit" Original Liberty building Villa Argentina another fine example of Liberty Building style

The main parade running along side the beach has many Liberty Art style buildings with beautiful examples of ceramic decorations which were popular during this period, the local tourist information centre has a map showing where the best examples of these beautiful buildings are.

Viareggio Harbour Fresh Fish Market at the Harbour

The town has a small fish market daily by the harbour, a daily market in the centre of the town and a large weekly market every Thursday in the main square.

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textural banner written in Italian saying Carnival of Viareggio , Carnival of Italy and Carnival of Europe Using enliven font

Close up of Clown from Large Float