Foiano della Chiana Carnival, Italy

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What is the Foiano della Chiana Carnival?

The Carnival of Foiano della Chiana is an annual celebration held in the village of Foiano della Chiana in the province of Arezzo, Italy. This carnival is one of the oldest in Italy and one of the most important in the country, being celebrated since 1539. During the celebrations, the town becomes a large stage that is divided into 4 groups, which adorn the city with their characteristic colors.

The carnivals of Foiano della Chiana have the particularity of celebrating their festivities during the Sundays before Lent. Moreover, it is not a conventional and typical carnival, but its main attraction are the large themed floats, which are built by the town’s artisans who are part of the 4 groups. The groups are divided into: Azzurri, Bombolo, Nottambuli and Rustici. The floats are carefully constructed in papier-mâché and the artisans work on each of them secretly and in separate buildings.

Each year, the Cantieri or Cantieri must develop a complete scenography accompanied by a dance troupe that develops under a specific theme. In addition, the floats are judged by a series of professionals composed of a sculptor, a painter, a journalist, a scenographer and an art critic.  The group that does the best job will be awarded a prize known as the “Carnival Cup“.
The four shipyards or cantieri are the very essence of the carnivals, as it is they who are in charge of building a magical, thematic and mobile stage. Some shipyards were founded more than 70 years ago and each of them has different identities, colors and coats of arms.

 

Cantieri

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Cantiere Azzurri

It is the oldest grouping. Its distinctive color is blue and its coat of arms is a sword adorned with a crown.

 

Cantiere Bombolo

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Its distinctive colors are red and white. Its coat of arms is a heart.

 

Cantiere Nottambuli

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It is the most recent grouping. They are identified with the color combination yellow and black and their shield is a bat.

 

Cantiere Rustici

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It is the grouping with the highest number of carnival cups. They are identified with the color white and light blue. Their coat of arms is an elephant.

The artillerymen or Cantieri are not directly related to the beginning of the carnivals, since these began to emerge from the decade of the 30s in the twentieth century.

 

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When is the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana?

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The Carnival of Foiano della Chiana takes placebefore Lent and events of great importance are held on Sundays. Generally the event takes place on 5 Sundays of celebration plus some minor events that take place between the week of the carnivals.

The carnivals of Foiano della Chiana will be held approximately from January 31 to February 28.

 

History of the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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The modern Carnival of Foiano della Chiana is relatively recent, dating back to 1930. However, the carnival celebrations proper as a pagan festival have been celebrated for centuries, since 1539 to be exact.

To determine concretely how the festivities were celebrated centuries ago is a somewhat complicated task; however, from what is known about the carnivals, it can be pointed out that in the year 1809 the carnivals were held with great enthusiasm and generally lasted 3 days. In addition, during this time an ordinance was released that allowed people to wear masks during the festivities. During the carnivals were daily celebrations at home and preparing “cenci”, one of the characteristic sweet dishes of the carnivals..

When the carrozas were invented in Foiano, these were not built with papier-mâché nor were they of large size as we know them today, Besides, they also did not have a particular theme and their purpose was not to show something, but were rather simple wagons in which some citizens climbed with sacks of lupins, chestnuts and cod. Once on the wagons, people would throw generous handfuls to the public attending the show.

Since that time, the carnival theme has evolved from food wagons to large carrozas full of colors and with exceptional proportions usually ranging from 17 meters long, 10 meters wide and 13 meters high. In addition, the different guilds of artisans were created, who today are the ones who make the carnivals possible through their ingenuity and labor.

The Cantiere Azzurri was created in 1933; Cantiere Rustici was founded in 1933; the Cantiere Bombolo in the year 1943 and finally, the Cantiere Nottambuli was founded in the year 1962.

Where is the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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The carnival celebration takes place in the village of Foiano della Chiana in the province of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy.

The town has an area of 40 square kilometers where about 9 thousand people live.

 

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How is the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana celebrated?

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The Carnival of Foiano della Chiana has an extensive 5-week program. During the carnivals there are some exhibitions, visits guided tours to museums, a gastronomic trail, shows, sports activities, entertainment shows, musical performances and poetry presentations. However, the carnivals have 4 main characteristic attractions or events:

 

Cart Contests and Election of the Winner

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During the carnival of Foiano della Chiana the floats parade the 3 Sundays before Carnival Tuesday and 2 Sundays after it, in total 5 Sundays of parade. Each float reflects great imagination and creativity, especially during the first parade day called “apertura degli uscioni“. This day is special, as it is the moment when the floats leave the building where they were built for the first time. The floats will parade for four Sundays competing for the coveted Carnival Cup which will be awarded by a special jury composed of a painter, a sculptor, a scenographer, an art critic and a journalist..

Each of the jurors will place their own personal ranking, after that, the best allegorical float of Foiano will be nominated, taking into consideration the different scores. The scores are awarded according to what place the float has placed; for example, for each first place obtained the jury awards a total of 5 points, 3 for each second, 2 for each third and 1 for each last place. At the end of the qualification, the points awarded are added up to name the winner.

The winner will win the coveted Carnival Cup.

 

Mask Parade and the final parade of floats

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The Foiano della Chiana Carnival does not end after the last float race, but the celebrations continue with a mask parade to which everyone is welcome; even you, just bring a colorful and creative costume. Moreover, the best costumes will be rewarded.

 

King Giocondo

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One of the most anticipated events within the carnivals of Foiano della Chiana and that close the festivities, is the Funeral of King Giocondo. The event features a huge puppet constructed of rags and straw that has the current year painted on its chest. This character is known as the King of Carnival, who is carried to the town’s central square by people holding lanterns, this ceremony is known as “Rificolonata”.

After this, the reading of the will of King Giocondo along with the highlights of the year’s events, both happy and sad, are read in rhyme and various characters of the town make fun of the typical sense of humor of the townspeople. During the last part of the will the verdict on the winner of the Carnival Cup is revealed. The event ends with the burning of King Giocondo.

 

Carnevalandia

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This is a children’s enclosure that is set up every Sunday during carnivals in the village. Inside the enclosure you can find inflatable mattresses, attractions, shows, workshops paper mache, sports workshops, jugglers, tournaments soccer, themed games, face painting, wooden toys, trains and cars for the little ones.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Tips for going to the Carnivals of Foiano della Chiana

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If you wish to attend the Carnivals of Foiano della Chiana, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making an itinerary of activities and booking your preferred accommodation in advance. Also, be sure to pack comfortable clothes and shoes for the enjoyment of the carnivals. Finally, don’t forget to bring your carnival costume to participate in the masked event.

Also, we recommend you to pack some warm clothes, since during carnivals the temperature stays below 10 degrees Celsius.

Finally, we recommend you that the carnivals have an entrance fee: Usually, an ordinary ticket for adults costs 9 euros, while for the little ones of the house who are less than 1 meter 50 centimeters tall, the entrance is free.

Also, the organizers of the carnival offer some package deals such as a discounted price for 2 adults and small children for 15 euros; discounts for being part of the Coop Centro Italia; group discounts for more than 20 people and subscriptions for 5 parades for 25 euros.

 

Events in Foiano della Chiana Carnival

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Carriage parades

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1st Sunday, January 31

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Opening: 11:00 a.m.

Parade: 15:00

 

2nd Sunday February 7

Start of activities: 12:00

 

3rd Sunday 14 February

Start of activities: 12:00

 

4th Sunday, February 21

Start of activities: 12:00

 

5th Sunday, February 28th

Start of activities: 12:00

Rificolonata: 18:00

Testament, verdict and burning of King Giocondo: 19:00

 

Carnevalandia

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Set up every Sunday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm at Piazza L. Nencetti.

 

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Foiano della Chiana Carnival Parades

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The races are composed of a great show of themed and colorful floats. Each of the groups: Azzurri, Bombolo, Nottambuli and Rustici, must prepare a large decorated float to present in the streets of the town.

The artillerymen have a year of planning and a solo carving to build a big float of immense proportions that features thematics, decorations and locomotion elements. In addition, each float is accompanied by a number of dancers and a band of instruments that set the scene for the entire scenography. Each of the dancers must have their own themed costume and perform a choreography together.

The floats are carefully evaluated by a professional panel consisting of a painter, a sculptor, a set designer, an art critic and a journalist. Each of the characters will scrutinize and award points from 1 to 5 to determine who will be the winners of the new edition of the carnivals of Foiano della Chiana..

In addition, there is also a large parade of masked characters in which everyone can participate. We encourage you to wear your own costume and participate directly in the carnival festivities.

 

 

Parade route

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The races of the floats that are accompanied by the show and the masked parade are both held in the historic center of the town of Foiano della Chiana.

 

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What to eat at the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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It is a tradition of countries that celebrate carnivals with much more enthusiasm to have some kind of dish, dessert or drink to celebrate the festivities. Generally, the food available during the dates is food with plenty of fatty matter, pork or more traditionally sweet food such as donuts or fried dough. Foiano della Chiana does not escape from tradition, as it also includes in its festivities characteristic carnival dishes that have been part of the tradition for centuries.

One of the traditional dishes during carnival is the Cenci. This is a dough strips made with flour, butter, eggs, wine or rum and sugar. Once the mixture is ready, they are fried in plenty of oil and then covered with granulated sugar or powdered sugar.

Another local product is the Marmellata di susine or plum jam. This jam is unique, as it is made with a kind of elongated plum and not with the traditional ones. The fruit is macerated until you get a thick paste that you can accompany with other baked goods for breakfast or snack.

In addition, the town of Foiano della Chiana offers a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and bars where you can enjoy a variety of dishes. Some of the places you can find in the town are: La Zinfarosa Braceria Trattoria Pizzeria, Mengrello, Le Farniole Trattoria Braceria Pizzeria Forno a Legna, Osteria Pulcino Nero, Al Borgo Dispensa Toscana and Braceria Spizzichi e Bocconi. The venues specialize in Tuscan, Italian and Mediterranean food.

 

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Travel Insurance

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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana?

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Once you are inside the carnivals, you can attend the days of the float races with the dance and music shows. You have the opportunity to see each of the floats of the artilleros or agrupaciones and enjoy the great show. You can attend the day you prefer or buy the package that offers the 5 Sundays of racing. In addition, you can attend the masquerade parade that takes place during the celebration, just make sure to bring the costume of your choice in your suitcase.

On the last day of the celebrations you have the opportunity to know the winner of the Copa de Carnaval and listen to the verdict given to the King of Carnival. Finally, you can attend the burning of the king, which ends the carnivals.

You can attend the different events held in the city on weekdays and Sundays. These range from performances, exhibitions, live music, tours of the museums and much more.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in English in this city:

 

 

What to see and do outside the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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Valdichiana Outlet Village

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This is a shopping center located in the village. Inside you can find several well-known and world-renowned brands. Generally, the prices are good and they offer a lot of discounts.

 

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Fraternità

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It is a sacred building with a bell tower. Inside you can find a carved wooden ceiling full of images with golden details.

 

Fattoria Santa Vittoria

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This is a wonderful winery that you can tour to learn all about the production, process and history of the wine that is produced here. They also take you on a tour of all the wine production processes so you can see with your own eyes how it is done.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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The town of Foiano della Chiana is extremely safe, so you don’t have to worry about coming to spend your carnivals, as you can walk the streets both day and night. If you manage to identify any irregular and suspicious activity, do not hesitate to contact the security agency.

It is always good to stay alert and keep your personal belongings in a safe place, especially when you are surrounded by a large number of people like the carnival. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather at the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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During the carnival festivities in Foiano della Chiana the weather is cold, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 1 degree Celsius. We recommend you to bring warm clothes to keep warm during the festivities.

 

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How to reach the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to Foiano della Chiana and with the largest number of flights reception is Florence Airport. Once here, you can use the different means of transport to reach the town.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From Florence Airport, you can take a train to Alamanni Station using the T2 line. Once there, transfer and take another train to Arezzo on the RE, FA, FR or IC lines. Upon arrival, transfer again and take a bus from Viale Cittadini to Foiano della Chiana on line SL5.

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport you can take a bus on lines LAM PO-FI, R03, DM, R04 or DD to Leopolda Station. Once there, walk about 10 minutes to Montelungo and take a bus to Foiano della Chiana, passing through Piazza del Popolo..

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take a car on the A1 or E35 until you reach Foiano della Chiana. The drive is 1 hour and 11 minutes.

 

Where to stay at the Carnival of Foiano della Chiana

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Booking.com

 

Accommodation in Foiano della Chiana is somewhat scarce, so we offer you some houses or villas that are located adjacent to the village.

 

Conca d’Oro

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House 1.2 km from the center of Foiano della Chiana. The house has 55 square meters, offers garden, barbecue area, 24-hour reception, 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, satellite TV, dining room, equipped kitchen and swimming pool.

 

Impronta di Gaia

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House 2.2 km from the center of Foiano della Chiana. The house has 100 square meters, has a garden, barbecue area, 3 bedrooms, TV, equipped kitchen, washing machine, bathroom with whirlpool bath, swimming pool, parking and allows pets.

 

Villa Portoverde

House 750 meters from the center of Foiano della Chiana. The house has 230 square meters, offers garden, barbecue area, free wifi, parking, air conditioning, satellite TV, equipped kitchen and spa.

 

Casa San Piero

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House 1.6 km from the center of Foiano della Chiana. The house has 190 square meters, barbecue area, free wifi, parking, 5 bedrooms, satellite TV, equipped kitchen, washing machine and 4 bathrooms with shower.

 

Vecchia Querce

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House 2.4 km from the center of Foiano della Chiana. The house has 130 square meters, barbecue area, garden, TV 3 bedrooms, equipped kitchen, 1 bathroom and allows pets.

We recommend you to use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Booking.com

 

Thanks for reading

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