A mysterious shade of Italy, the Carnival.

Between the 8 th and 13th of February, Italy celebrates the traditional Carnival, between colorful masks, dresses, parties and parades!

If it's a long time you connect the idea of Carnival to the hottest celebration of the brasilian culture, in cities like Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo.

Now could be the time for you to try something different! If you are always been a lover of elegant customes, masks, great parties and awesome food, you are ready to take part at the italian carnival.

As a catholic country, it is tradition in Italy to celebrate the period before Easter with this holiday that starts on Thursday the 8th and ends on Tuesday the 13th of February.

The name "Carnevale" come from latin "Carmen levare", that means to "eliminate meats". Sure enough this is a really old tradition, started in the ancient Rome and Greece.

As a matter of fact the last day of Carnival is called "fat Tuesday", when people are supposed to celebrate and finished all their food before the start of the Lent. A period of chaos and happiness was supposed to bring to order and reconciliation.

From the ancient Rome, the mask became Carnival's symbol, nowaday still used as traditional. 

People wanted to keep a veil of mistery, probably to make parties more interesting.

Currently this holiday is celebrated by everyone in Italy, as an awaited moment and a chance to dress in extravagant ways in public.

Shops and artisans sell all kinds of customes, for every budget! 

In years of Carnival in Italy, I had the chance to see people dressed as politicians, fairies, bananas, cows, and everthing else your immagination is able to consider.

In order to have the best italian experience of this period of the year, carnival pastries are a must.

Some of the most delicious treats you can easily find in local pastisseries are: Frittole (typical from Venice), crostoli or chiacchiere (all Italy), frittelle (from Mantova), and sweet arancini(from Sicily). 

Every region has its own speciality and culinary tradition. This is what makes italian food so incredible!

Parades are also a fun moment, to enjoy colorfully decorated floats pass by principal streets.

People starts planning the parade also years in advance, but the result is magic, mostly at the eyes of the youngest.

For the grown up, there are other kinds of parties, nightclubs and outdoors festivals offer several carnival events, to celebrate and have some drinks with friends, in an uncommon atmosphere.

According to the "style magazine", the best italian carnivals experiences are in : Venice, Cento, Fano, Putignano, Mamoiada, as well as Rocchetta al Volturno and Satranio di Lucania.

Furthermore, the english newspaper "The Guardian" defined the carnival of Arcireale, one of the best in Europe. (link to page" https://style.corriere.it/top-class/viaggi-i-carnevali-piu-belli-ditalia/?refresh_ce-cp")

If you are still not sure to experience a different shade of Italy, click on the link below for a further visual inspiration:

 ( Viareggio's carnival)

( Venice's carnival)