If you are not visiting Viareggio during its famous carnival, you can still get a taste of the festivities with a visit to the Statue of Burlamacco and the adjacent carnival museum. The whimsical clown, with his red and white outfit and his flowing cape, is a sight to behold. Although the Carnival of Viareggio takes place in late winter, the Statue of Burlamacco ensures that the spirit of the carnival remains year-round.
The beginnings of the Carnival of Viareggio date all the way back to 1873. Over the years the carnival has grown and today it is an internationally renowned celebration.
In 1931 it was determined that the carnival needed a mascot and a citywide competition was held looking for a character befitting the spirit of the festivities. Uberto Bonetti submitted the winning design, a fanciful clown with a red-and-white colour scheme, the same colours as the umbrellas on Viareggio’s beach. Bonetti’s clown was given the name Burlamacco, after the Burlamacco canal that crosses the city. Today, the large statue of the fun-loving Burlamacco watches over the waterfront of the city.
For four consecutive Sundays around February, people from all over the world gather in Viareggio to see the carnival. Watch the parade of exquisite floats, which are decorated with the faces of celebrities, historic figures and politicians.
Most of these large and elaborate floats take several months to construct and can transport over 100 people. Visit la Citadella di Carnevale to see where these marvellous showpieces are built. Explore the Museo del Carnevale to learn more about the history of the festivities and to see the tremendous amount of work and skill that goes into the creating the costumes and the floats.
The carnival has many other attractions in addition to the parade. Gaze up at fantastic fireworks displays, attend a masked ball and dine on the special carnival menu at the restaurants that line the promenade.
