Rijeka Carnival, Croatia

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What is Rijeka Carnival?

Rijeka Carnival, also known as Riječki karneval, is the most anticipated carnival celebration in Croatia, taking place in Rijeka. During the festivities, a huge number of events are held that exalt Croatian culture and celebrate the carnival festivities in a special and unusual way unlike any other on the European continent.

The costumes and masks are typical elements of carnival that can never be missing. In addition, the festivities are characterized by the ceremony of the Zvončari, some characters who carry with them large bells that they ring while they make an incredible riot in the streets of the city. Likewise, the carnivals celebrate elements similar to the rest of the world; the coronation of the Carnival Queen,giving of the key to the city, mechanical games, dances, sports activities and the Grand Parade. However, at the end of the festivities, the burning of the “Pust”, a ceremony of catharsis in which he burns all the bad things of the previous year, takes place.

A few years ago, the carnival in Rijeka was one of the favorite destinations for the Carnival festivities. However, during the government of Josip Broz, the festivities dwindled to a trickle. After the independence of Croatia, the traditions began to emerge again, positioning itself as a destination with greater importance in Europe over the years.

Today, the carnival takes place in large proportions, counting with the participation of 11,000 people, among dancers, comparsitas, collaborators and others. Also, the carnivals are visited by at least 100,000 spectators each year.

 

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When is the Rijeka Carnival

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LpRijeka’s carnival will take place from approximately January 17 to February 17.

 

 

History of the Rijeka Carnival

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It is known that thecarnivals in Croatia have been celebrated since 1449 thanks to a document in which a ban on masks is mentioned with the exception of the masked dances that took place in Kaštela. The purpose of this ban was to maintain public order and to avoid criticism of the government. However, the ban did not prevent people from continuing to celebrate.

In 1982, a masked walk was held for the first time, being the beginning of a larger event that would become part of the carnival traditions in Croatia. The festivities continued to grow with the tradition of the masks spreading throughout the country, creating the “Fifth Season” which translates as “Carnival Season“, festivities that would encompass a more deep-rooted sense for the country.

The beginnings of Rijeka carnival had just 3 carnival groups, who performed the first masked walk. However, today the carnival has more than 100 groups that actively participate in the festivities. The carnival grew to such a magnitude that the Rijeka Carnival made it to the list of the 500 most important events in Europe and in 2009 won the Golden Tourist Heart award as the best tourist attraction in southeastern Europe.

The carnival in Rijekacontinues to grow and consolidate over time to compete with world famous carnivals such as Venice Carnival or Rio de Janeiro.

 

Where is the Rijeka Carnival

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The carnivals are held in thecity of Rijeka, Croatia..

 

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How the Rijeka Carnival is celebrated

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Carnival Queen Contest and ceremony of handing over the key to the city

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Before any ceremony, the Carnival flag of the city is hoisted, a symbol that the festivities are about to begin. Then, the contest of the Carnival Queen and the giving of the key ceremony is what formally kicks off the carnival season. During these celebrations a musical performance takes place and the Carnival Queen is chosen, usually the most charming person of the groups of comparsas.

Likewise, the mayor hands over the keys to Meštar Toni, also known as “Master of Carnival“, accompanied by some shows and shows. From this moment on, the carnivals have officially begun.

 

Zvončari

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This event is also known asthe bell ringers. It is a long-standing tradition in which hundreds of men dressed as animals dance, sing and ring their bells which they carry with them. This ceremony was granted with the commemoration of Immaterial Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. This custom dates back to ancient times and it was believed that the celebration of this ritual was intended to chase away the winter spirits and make way for the spring cycle.

The normal costume of the Zvončar consists of white pants, striped shirt and a kind of helmet made of sheepskin. In his hands he carries a “balta”, also known as “bauka”, in Spanish it is known as “maza”. However, their attire varies from region to region; the Zvončari of Halubje and Grobnik wear animal heads, while those of Ajane and Brgud wear flower hats. Most of the characters carry a large cowbell around their waists.

 

Children’s Parade

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During the event both local children and visitors can participate. During the parade, hundreds of children wear their little dresses and masks through the streets of the city. The theme is usually fairies and cute creatures.

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

 

International Carnival Parade

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This is the most awaited ceremony, the cherry on the cake of the Carnival celebrations in Rijeka. In the parade you see the thousands of dancers, musicians and compartisans parading the streets with masks andcolorful and beautifully decorated costumes. In addition, they are accompanied by large and colorful floats. The parade has at least 100 groups and some 100,000 visitors from the surrounding countries.

 

Burning of the Pust

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It is the closing ceremony. During the ceremony the “Pust” is judged and burned. The “Pust” is a figure or symbol materialized in a doll that represents all the negative events of the last months.

After this ceremony, thekey of the city is handed over and the carnival flag of the city is lowered, ending the carnivals.

During the festivities there are also some celebrations such as motor vehicle races, sports competitions, sessions and DJ festivals and adance at the Rijeka palace. The latter is a ceremony and is seen as an exclusive ceremony where people from certain social sectors, celebrities and people with some high status in society attend.

 

Tips for going to the Rijeka Carnival

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If you wish to take part in the Rijeka carnivals, we recommendplanning your trip in advance, making atravel itinerary and reserving your accommodation in advance.

Also, we would like to tell you that during the festivities the average temperature is 5 degrees, so we recommend you to pack a coat to keep warm during the carnival festivities.

 

 

 

Events in Rijeka Carnival

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The celebrations begin in January, usually in the middle of the month. The first celebrations that take place is theraising of the carnival flag, first sign that the carnival festivities are beginning. After this, the coronation or election of the Carnival Queen takes place and finally, the key of the city is given to the “Master of Carnival“.

A week later, one of the most anticipated and iconic ceremonies of the carnivals takes place; the Zvončari. During the ceremony the hundreds of men dressed in sheepskins come out to dance, sing and sound their cowbells. The ceremony is a true spectacle that will make you remember these carnivals forever. Likewise, the personalities of this ceremony will also be part of the parade.

 

 

The following week, the Children’s Parade takes place with the thousands of children from the elementary schools going through the streets and showing off their little costumes. Then, the Grand Parade or International Carnival Parade takes place. This is the most awaited and the most powerful ceremony of the festivities. During the parade you can appreciate the thousands of participants in incredible costumes, the carrozas, the bandas musicales and the bailarines performing spectacular choreographies.

Finally, theburning of the “Pust” takes place and then gives way to the handing over of the key to the city and the lowering of the carnival flag, ending the festivities.

 

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Rijeka Carnival Parades

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During the festivities there are two parades; the children’s and the International Carnival Parade..

The former consists of the procession of the city’s little ones sporting their costumes, usually focused on adorable creatures and fairies..

The International Parade is the strongest event and is performed by more than 10,000 participants who make up the 100 groups Carnival. The carrozas also make their presence felt in the streets and the dancers and musicians brighten up the celebration for the more than 100,000 visitors who come from different parts of the world to see the carnival.

 

Parade route

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The parades take place mainly in the vicinity of the city’s town hall.

 

 

 

What to eat at the Rijeka Carnival

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One of the traditional foods in the region is the Rapska torta or Rabska torta, a kind of cake filled with almonds, orange zest and lemon. You can also try the Šurlice, a type of long and somewhat thick pasta that is accompanied by sauces, seafood or meats.

The city also offers you some places to eat such as: Konoba Nebuloza, Mornar and Konoba Na Kantunu..

 

 

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 Rijeka Carnival

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Within the carnival you can see the opening ceremony with the giving of the keys of the city and thecrowning of the Carnival Queen. In addition, you can attend the different presentations that take place that day.

Likewise, you can attend the ceremony of Zvončari and watch the show with their particular costumes and all the fuss they make with their cowbells. You can’t miss the parades, as they are the main attraction of the festivities. In addition, you can attend the different events that take place with the DJ performances or the races.

Finally you can attend the burning of “Pust”, a ceremony that brings the carnivals to an end.

If you do not want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside the Rijeka Carnivals

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Katedrala Svetog Vida

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It is one of the main temples of the city. It was built in 1638 and is in the Baroque style.

 

Korzo

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It is the pedestrian street of Rijeka, what would be considered the heart of the city. Around it you will find stores, restaurants, cafes and different monuments and historical buildings.

 

Gradina Trsat

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It is a castle that was rebuilt during the 19th century. A restaurant and various tourist stores are located inside, although it formerly functioned as a mausoleum.

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

 

Safety at the Rijeka Carnival

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The city of Rijeka is safe; however, we recommend you to remain vigilant and keep your belongings in a safe place. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your items safe and secure:

 

 

Weather in Rijeka Carnival

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The weather in the city during the festivities is somewhat cold, with temperatures ranging between 3 and 10 degrees Celsius. We recommend you to pack warm clothes for the festivities.

 

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How to get to Rijeka Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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Rijeka International Airport is the main airport of the city, which receives a large number of international flights. From here you can use the different means of transport to reach the city center.

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 ferry

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The city has direct entry by catamarans coming from the Gulf of Carnaro.

 

How to get there by train

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The city has a main station located in Žabica. This station connects with several cities in the country and other European cities..

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport take a bus on line 996 of the FlixBus company directly to the city center. The journey takes 40 minutes.

The main bus station is located in Žabica and receives buses from different parts of the country. The station is right next to the train station.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport take the A7 road until you reach the city center. The drive is about half an hour.

 

Where to stay in Rijeka Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Old Town Inn

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4-star inn 100 meters from the town center. Rooms have air conditioning, television and private bathroom. Facilities offer free wifi, airport transfers and parking.

 

Hotel Bonavia Plava Laguna

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4-star hotel 150 meters from the city. Rooms feature TV, safe, minibar and private bathroom. Facilities include spa, gym, restaurant, bar and wifi.

 

Hotel Jadran

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4 star hotel 1.9 km from the city center. Facilities include beach entrance, restaurant, bar, parking and free wifi.

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

 

Booking.com

 

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