tips and exclusive itineraries in Florence
Carnival is one of the most fun times of the year for young and old alike. Rice fritters and Florentine-style schiacciata sweeten the windows of pastry shops and the squares of Tuscan villages dress up to host parades
Let's discover together the most beautiful carnivals in Tuscany
From February 8 to March 4, parades of gigantic allegorical floats, performances, historical reenactments, music events, and art will once again take center stage at the Viareggio Carnival, one of Italy's most important carnivals. HERE all about the parades, guests, and events related to the Carnival.
the charming medieval village of Foiano della Chiana (AR) will host the 486th edition of Italy’s oldest carnival
featuring four grand allegorical floats made of papier-mâché by the Azzurri
February 8: Official inauguration with exhibitions and cultural events
including the presentation of the Carnival poster
February 9: Opening of the workshops and the first parade of the floats from Piazza Matteotti (at 14:30)
and a street food area offering local specialties
Each weekend will be filled with various side events
and entertainment for both adults and kids
The carnival will also be streamed live with special guest appearances
In the picturesque village of Castiglion Fibocchi (AR)
the charm of the Carnevale dei Figli di Bocco returns
an event that evokes Venetian allure with luxurious masks and baroque atmospheres
the village transforms into an open-air stage
animated by 200 participants dressed in precious costumes and papier-mâché masks
surrounded by vibrant colors and nostalgic vibes
The Carnival’s origins date back to the 12th century
when nobles and commoners celebrated together during the traditional "festa de Carnesciale"
the event was revived in 1997 and is now reaching its 28th edition in 2025
In addition to the spectacular masked parade
the carnival will feature a rich program with street artists
offering a journey through time filled with art
The tradition of the Santa Croce sull’Arno Carnival dates back to 1928
when locals decided to dress up to brighten the gray winter days
with countless handmade masks parading through the streets and squares of the historic center in a celebration of color and choreography
The first parade will take place on February 16
when a carnival ball was held in a hotel hall
the Carnevale Follonichese has been brightening the cold days of Follonica
It gained significant momentum after World War II
and later as the Carnevale Follonichese (named so in 1979)
This carnival is a vibrant competition between allegorical floats representing different districts
The event culminates at the end of the third parade with the bonfire of King Carnival
a huge papier-mâché mask that marks the grand finale
with a major new addition: the concluding parade will take place at night on Saturday
starting at 16:30 and ending with a spectacular fireworks display
February 9 (14:30): Second parade and Miss Carnevale election
February 16 (14:30): Awards for the floats and the best ground costumes
February 22 (16:30): Night parade with fireworksGrand Finale: The Fat Thursday ball (February 27) will close the celebrations with an evening of music and fun along the seafront
On the Sundays of February 9, 16, 23, and March 2, the papier-mâché allegorical floats will make their way through the medieval towers of San Gimignano. This family-friendly event, filled with music, confetti, and streamers, is set against the charming backdrop of the medieval village (Here is everything you mustn't miss in San Gimignano)
the much-anticipated Carnevale di Stia returns to Stia (Arezzo) for an unmissable celebration
The historic parade will take place on February 22-23 and March 2-3
featuring the prestigious Maschera d’Oro competition
Children participating in the contest will receive fun gadgets
The allegorical floats parade through Piazza Tanucci starting at 14:00
The Carnevale Mugellano in Borgo San Lorenzo is set for the Sundays of February 9
exhibitions and highlights from 30 January to 5 February 2023
From the magic of Christmas to the winter sales
here are the reasons to visit the city at this time of year
Galleria Alessandro Bagnai in Foiano della Chiana (Arezzo) is hosting the solo exhibition of artist Stefano Di Stasio (Naples
entitled Figure dell’incerto and curated by Vittoria Coen
The Arezzo exhibition includes works created especially for the event
which thus features a large and interesting selection of unpublished works
of medium and large dimensions that mark an important turning point in his research and ideally reconnect with his early experiments of the 1970s.Di Stasio
the author of an art that wants to be understood as a timeless force
uses painting that brings together technique and improvisation to narrate a vital research experience that even today appears free from momentary influences and fashions
Di Stasio wants to look beyond the limit of the canvas
The works are made with great and meticulous attention to detail
in a counterpoint of images and colors that gives rise to the “silent” and long-considered concert
appears almost as a manifesto of the artist’s new turn: large
direct caesuras that enhance images without boundaries of space and time
“The reappropriation of some abstract element within the representation,” the artist explains
for many years kept at bay by the perverse need to re-invent the figurative language of the pre-modern tradition
can intervene and combine with the figures and scenes usual in my painting.” The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog with text by Stefano Di Stasio and introductory essay by Vittoria Coen
Stefano Di Stasio was born in Naples in 1948
He currently lives between Rome and Spoleto
He should be counted among the protagonists of the return to image painting that characterized the last twenty years of the 20th century
In addition to his participation in Aperto 82 of the 1982 Venice Biennale
he was present with solo rooms at the subsequent Biennales of 1984 and 1995
He has participated in numerous important National and International group exhibitions
Between 2001 and 2004 he made an entire painting cycle
for the new church in Terni Santa Maria della Pace
His works are present in the Collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The gallery opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays by appointment. For info and reservations you can visit the Alessandro Bagnai Gallery website
Below is a selection of works by Stefano Di Stasio that can be seen at the Alessandro Bagnai Gallery.