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WHERE: Acireale (Sicily), Italy
WHEN: from 15th February to 04th March 2025
The oldest Carnival in Sicily, and among the most beautiful in all of Italy.
Word of “The Guardian” which in 2017 included it among the 10 most beautiful alternative Carnival parties in Europe.
The Carnival of Acireale is spectacular, fun, colorful, lively.
Since 1594, the year in which we have the first documented news of its existence.
There are extraordinary allegorical floats, with beautifully decorated papier-mâché figures. The subjects, as per tradition, concern topics of satire and social customs, often current.
Alongside the allegorical floats, there is space for the beautiful flowered floats, once the prerogative of a special party, and from 2020 incorporated into the Carnival of Acireale.
Lights and mechanical movements characterize the floats that parade through the streets of the city.
Photo ©, Leandro Neumann Ciuffo
To complete the show, incredible miniature floats, also ready to parade during the celebrations. Real small works of art, made in a truly impressive and meticulous way!
A truly wonderful show in which the great tradition and skilled Sicilian craftsmanship reaches its maximum expression. The skill of these “tankers” is now recognized nationally.
The most beautiful Carnival, therefore, awaits you in February in Sicily: a real theater of wonders which, as they say in these parts, is the best recipe for good humor.
THE PLACES OF THE PARTY
The baroque Piazza del Duomo is the hub of the Acireale Carnival. Many of the floats come to life just as they pass through the historic square. For over 40 years, the circuit has crossed Piazza Duomo and the three most important streets of the city: Corso Italia, Corso Savoia and Corso Umberto.
To watch the fashion shows, you can enter only through the special gates. Accesses are monitored.
THE PROGRAM OF THE CARNIVAL OF ACIREALE 2025
Photo ©, Alessandro Grussu
The highlight of the festival takes place from Thursday 27 February to Tuesday 04 March 2025 (Shrove Tuesday).
During the two weekends of February (15, 16, 22 and 23) there will be, as usual, a first “taste” of the Carnival with the parade of allegorical floats. On Saturday the suggestive night parade will take place, while on Sunday the daytime one.
A parade in grand style, however, on Saturday 01 March, Sunday 02 March and Shrove Tuesday. The latter, with the parade of flowered floats, represents the highlight of the Carnival. Official closing with fireworks and the fire of the Carnival King.
The program is not limited to parades alone. The competition between the best floats awards the most beautiful in various categories. There is also a prize for the most beautiful isolated masks.
For the little ones, fun is guaranteed by the presence of a small amusement park, generally installed in Largo Francesco Vecchio.
TICKETS 2025
To attend the parades and shows of the Carnival of Acireale, you must purchase a special Daily ticket at a cost of €8 for adults aged 18 and over. Young people aged 12 to 17 pay €6. Children up to 12 pay €3.
There are also open-dated passes available for 2 days (€14), 4 days (€24), 6 days (€35).
FREE admission for children up to 120cm tall, disabled people and their companions. Purchased tickets cannot be changed or cancelled.
THE CARNIVAL MUSEUM OF ACIREALE
Inaugurated in 2019, the Carnival Museum is the ideal place to get to know the whole history of this extraordinary event up close.
The museum exhibits the manufacturing processes, metal frames of masks, plaster casts, miniature floats, sketches, but also very valuable pieces such as the Rosary of the Acese Cathedral made by Rosario Lizio and the detail of Palazzo Musumeci, by Natale Longo.
The museum is located inside the Palazzo del Turismo, in via Ruggero Settimo 5.
*all information contained herein, including timetables and prices, is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered official. All names and trademarks herein belong to their respective owners.
One Comment
Hola buenas noches me pueden decir a qué hora empieza el carnaval desfile el domingo antes de cuaresma gracias