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Watch the Fun Parade at Viareggio Carnevale

Not yet published by Vanessa Boiser

Country: Italy

The Experience

Viareggio Carnevale is one of the most popular and grand carnivals in Italy. It is held on successive Sundays from February to March before the start of Lent on a nice seaside village in Versilia Riviera. Carnival floats decorated with giant effigies of well known people who made the headlines during the year. The parade is meant to be fun and satirical. The Viareggio Carnevale historically started out as a Sunday festival out of the whim of wealthy and influential people in 1873 on a day when laborers simultaneously made their way on the streets to protest the high tax collection. The townspeople loved the procession and made it a yearly affair to air out their grievances in jests. The Viareggio Carnevale is more than a hundred years old! Take part of this grand festival and lose yourself to the fun parade of giant floats.

When to Go

The best time to go to Viareggio Carnevale is on the first Sunday in February when the festival opens and where you may witness a parade of the effigies. Processions usually start at 3pm. It is very advantageous to visit Viareggio on February because it is off-peak season. If you love to relax and sit doing nothing while watching the world go by, then the Viareggio Carnevale is the best destination for you. You will also appreciate lovely Tuscan architecture and the unique restaurant menus especially created just for the Viareggio Carnevale. Tons of cheap flights going to Pisa Airport and accommodation in Viareggio will be available. However, don't be surprised if a ton of people as many as 500,000 will see the Viareggio Carnevale, especially in March on its final street parade since it's a pretty popular festival. While you are there to see the Viareggio Carnevale, do visit the Museo del Carnevale for a history of how it all started. You will also find out how people prepare their floats for at least 5 months to make them the best in the Viareggio Carnevale parade. February is one of the coldest months in Viareggio, so prepare for a chilly weather. Viareggio boardwalk is a good place to watch people and the beach, however, a canopy or an umbrella with a lounge chair will cost you a bit. It is not recommended to take a dip during that time of the year as it can be very cold.

Odds n' Ends

Don’t forget to don a mask to suit the festival. There are no dress codes or any restrictions. Most people will be wearing costumes, even spectators. To get there, book a flight to Pisa airport and get on the train at 9:03pm. If you miss this, do not worry because another one will be due to travel to Viareggio at 10:20pm. From the train station, take a little walk to the Piazza Mazzini. Tickets to the Viareggio Carnevale may be bought beforehand or on kiosks on the parade route.Here are additional information where you may buy tickets in advance and where to book your accommodation during your visit at the Viareggio Carnevale:

Viareggio Carnevale Information (Tickets and Schedule)
http://www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/biglietteria_informazioni.php

Hotels:
Hotel Tirrenia (3-Star)
via San Martino 23, 55049 Viareggio, Italy
Website: http://www.tirreniahotel.it/
Tel: +39 0584 49641
Email: info@tirreniahotel.it

Best Western Grand Hotel Royal Viareggio (4-star)
Lungomare Carducci 44, 55049 Viareggio, Italy
Website: http://www.royalviareggio.it/en/home-page.aspx

Plaze e de Russie (hotel along procession route)
Website: www.plazaederussie.com
Tel: +39 0584 44449

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Language Guides

French , Italian are some of the languages spoken in Italy. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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