Among all the annual events, one of the most eagerly awaited along with Christmas is undoubtedly the Carnival. It’s a magical time for both adults and children, as it involves people from all over the world with its colors and masks. Particularly in our area, from north to south, there is a variety of characters embodied by the masks that is truly fascinating. Turin is one of the metropolises where a very special and original Carnival is organized each year. Let’s take a closer look at this celebration in the Piedmontese capital, where it’s held, when it takes place, and how to get there, including through the convenient and luxurious NCC non-scheduled public transport service.
Where is the Carnival in Turin?
As mentioned earlier, one of the most awaited moments of the year, especially by children, is the Carnival, for its wide variety of masks and fantasy, historical, or fairy-tale characters embodied by both adults and children. There are traditional masks and costumes that draw attention to fairy tales, allegorical, fun, or cinematic stories. These character masterpieces gain a defined specificity within the confines of a costume or mask. In Turin, this event is held in the Pellerina Park, with traditional characters such as Gianduja and Giacometta topping the list of favorites. A huge queue led by these two characters is found at the head of the parade floats that march through the urban streets of the Piedmontese capital. It may not be on the scale of the carnivals in Viareggio or Venice, but the Turin Carnival holds its own remarkably well.
When is the Carnival celebrated in Turin?
The Carnival is usually celebrated around the period immediately adjacent to Valentine’s Day, thus around mid-February. Specifically in Turin, this festival traditionally falls on Shrove Tuesday, which in 2024 is on February 19th. Initially, an inaugural parade is planned for the end of January, followed by a build-up to the Carnival. We mentioned earlier about the Pellerina Park being the focal area for this celebration in the Piedmontese capital. It’s a large area where parade floats find ample space for display and for emotionally engaging the crowds that gather.
When is the Carnival celebrated in Piedmont?
It’s important to distinguish between the Turin Carnival and the general Piedmontese Carnival, especially in terms of their timing. While in Turin, the festival is held on February 19th, in the wider Piedmont region, it usually falls on February 13th. This discrepancy is also due to the management of the respective municipal authorities. It is well known that Shrove Tuesday is the traditional day for Carnival, but the celebration can be delayed due to public order issues or event organization challenges. The event involves parades of floats and huge crowds following them, which congest traffic and block many city center roads and surrounding areas. Such a situation significantly affects the administrative normalcy of any region and municipality, including Turin or the broader Piedmont region.
Where is the Carnival celebrated in Piedmont?
Speaking of Carnival in Piedmont, there is a variety of local towns where a special program of themed events is organized. From the classic parades of allegorical floats, led by symbolic masks like Gianduja and Giacometta as highlighted in the previous paragraphs, to costume balls, and the confetti and balloons beloved by children. Carignano, Oleggio, Ivrea, and Domodossola are just some of the places that lend their areas for the setup of stages, parades, and costume evenings for the Piedmontese Carnival. There are also juries that award prizes to the most beautiful floats, which usually pass through the streets of urban centers both in the morning and evening. This offers a double chance to impress both the public and the judges to score the highest points. In Cavaglià, the Multifunctional Hall hosts a multitude of events for young people and adults, with lots of music, dancing, and fun in costume. Then there is the Historical Carnival of Crescentino, which draws heavily from the history of the city of Crescentino. It dates back to the 1500s to the reign of Riccardo Tizzoni, who oppressed the population. In one of these tales, a revolt leads a young woman to behead the king on a night between February 14 and 15. From this legend arises the celebration that today is commemorated with a mask embodying this character of great courage and revolution, a historical symbol different from the traditionally recognized masks. Domodossola and Ivrea, on the other hand, have opposite roots: the former is more modern and less anchored in the past concerning the organization of Carnival; the latter has a strong historical appeal, with legend playing a dominant role. Thus, contrasting visions coexist in terms of territoriality and geolocation.
How to reach Turin and surrounding areas for the Carnival
With this in mind, it’s also important to know how to reach these destinations to celebrate the Piedmontese Carnival: NCC for Turin is certainly one of the main options. Car rental with driver has been an alternative to regular public transport for years, offering luxury cars and vehicles of great comfort, providing citizens with a quick and novel way to travel. By setting the departure and arrival dates and geographical pickup and drop-off points, one can reach any corner of the area, including Turin or the wider Piedmont region. Whether it’s Invrea, Domodossola, Turin, or other destinations, little changes. Thanks to the NCC in Turin, each of these Italian Carnival locations can be accessed to experience joy, fun, and carefreeness with friends, family, or children, even in areas not easily reachable by public transport, especially when it comes to reaching towns without a railway station but which, on those days, are dressed up for the festivities.
