Even if you are not visiting Viagerrio during its annual carnival, you can still get a feel for what the carnival involves by visiting the Statue of Burlamacco and nearby carnival museum. The whimsical caped clown dressed in colourful attire is a sight to behold. The Carnival of Viareggio takes place only for a few weeks in late winter, but its unofficial mascot keeps the spirit of carnival alive throughout the year.
The origins of the carnival date back to 1873. In the century that followed, the Carnival of Viareggio evolved into an internationally acclaimed spectacle.
In 1931 it was decided that the city needed a mascot befitting the carnival. A competition was held and Uberto Bonetti created the winning design. He cleverly based the clown’s colour scheme on the red-and-white umbrellas that dot the beach of Viareggio. The clown was given the name of Burlamacco, a reference to the Burlamacca canal that traverses the city. Today, the big statue of Burlamacco is a permanent feature on the waterfront of the city.
Late winter each year, thousands of people from all over the world flock to Viareggio for the carnival, which is held on four consecutive Sundays around February. Enjoy the spectacle of floats bearing the familiar faces of politicians, celebrities and well-known historic characters.
Most floats take months to build and can carry well over 100 people. See where these showpieces are created and parked at La Citadella di Carnevale. To learn more about the history of the event and the art that goes into creating the floats and costumes, take a short walk to the Museo del Carnevale.
While the parade is the main spectacle during the carnival, it is by no means the only attraction. See fireworks displays, go to masked balls and dine along the promenade in Viareggio. Due to the influx of visitors, most restaurants offer a special carnival menu.
