Ivrea Historical Carnival

WHERE: Ivrea, Italy
WHEN: from 06 January to 13 February 2024

History, tradition, culture, show. This, and much more, represents the Ivrea Historical Carnival. It is one of the most fascinating events in Italy. A party in which history, myth and legend come together. Today, the Historical Carnival Ivrea has obtained the recognition of an Italian event of international importance.

The event is held every year in the Piedmontese town and attracts an increasing number of tourists and curious. All attracted by the spectacular historical re-enactment and the characters that crowd the streets of the city.

During the three days of the event, along the streets of Ivrea, it is possible to attend the traditional historical parade; folk groups, allegorical floats, musical bands, from all over Europe, and all the characters of the carnival tradition of Ivrea, parade through the streets of the city. The Mugnaia is the symbolic character of this carnival. Next to bridesmaids and pages, she parades on a golden chariot, wearing a long white wool dress; from here, candy and twigs of mimosa are thrown to passersby. The main characters, as mentioned, parade during the parade.

The General with the Horse Officers who make up the Napoleonic Staff; the Vivandiere; the Grand Chancellor Substitute; the Magnificent Podestà, that is, he who is the guarantor of city liberty; the very young Abba, holding a small saber on which an orange is impaled, symbol of the severed head of the tyrant.

Photo ©, Laurom

The Ivrea Historical Carnival is a moment of joy, celebration and sharing. And, inevitable, music is one of the fundamental elements. At the band of pipes and drums, the task of animating the party, with their instruments. Pipes, drums and drums, rhythm sounds and music from the seventeenth-nineteenth century. The band also performs “La Canzone del Carnevale”; it is the official anthem of the party that celebrates the popular revolt against the tyrant. The event, however, of greater appeal, inextricably linked to the Historic Carnival Ivrea, is the Battle of oranges. An incredible evocative event that is absolutely unmissable. A show of sounds, lights and colors.

PRACTICAL INFO

HOW TO GET

Ivrea is located in Piedmont, in northern Italy, about 200 kilometers from Geneva in Switzerland, and 350 from Lyon, in France. Turin-Caselle Airport, the closest to Ivrea, is just over 50 kilometers. Ideally, it would be to hire a car. Anyone wishing to use the means must arrive by bus at the Torino Porta Susa railway station; from here, the regional train allows you to reach Ivrea in about an hour.

Less accessible, in spite of the not excessive distance, the nearby Milan-Linate and Milan-Malpensa airports. Advisable in the case of car hire. Otherwise, with the means, the journey times are over 3 hours due to the numerous changes.

Photo, Laurom

IVREA HISTORICAL CARNIVAL 2024 MAIN PROGRAM

It officially starts on Friday 6 January 2024. Appointment from 08.30 to 16.30 with a rich program of events and activities. From 9am, the opening march of the Carnival through the streets of the city. Here is the list of the main activities and programs, found on the official website:

• Sunday 28 January: Beans from Bellavista and San Giovanni (09.15). Acceptance of the Book of Minutes from the Grand Chancellor to the Deputy (10.40). Prize du Drapeau (11.30am). Inaugural Banquet (12.30pm). Raising of the Abbas. Historical procession parade.
• Sunday 04 March: Fagiolate di Montenavale, Cuj dij Vigne, Torre Balfredo and Santi Pietro e Donato (09:00). Presentation of the casting floats and parade in the streets of the center (10.30am). Raising of the Abbas. Parade parade.