Carnival of Francavilla al Mare

One of the most important holidays on the winter calendar

The Carnival of Francavilla al Mare, better known as the Carnival of Abruzzo, is one of the most beautiful and famous, not only in the region but in Italy. Every year, during these festive days, the town turns into a big open-air stage with the streets invaded by masks, floats and lots and lots of merriment.

The highlight of the festivities is the parade of floats, inspired by the caricature and satire of characters and events that have been assumed in the media limelight throughout the year. Much of the fame of the Frankaville carnival is due precisely to the skill and imagination of the expert paper mache masters, who work for months with their teams to bring the magnificent floats to life. The parade always follows the traditional route along the city’s main avenue (Neptune Avenue) between the train station and Sirena Square, drawing a huge crowd of spectators. The floats are accompanied by folklore groups, dancers, small orchestras, as well as the townspeople, especially children, obviously dressed in masks.

Opening the parade is King Patanello, the official mask of the carnival event. Its origin is related to a tale that lies somewhere between reality and legend. It is inspired by the story of zì Patane, a cobbler who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and also performed the functions of sacristan. A lover of good wine and taverns, he was an extravagant and charismatic character famous in the village for his goliardic pranks. From this sympathetic legend the Neapolitan painter Caiati, who loved to spend his vacations in Fancavilla al Mare, took inspiration to design the mask that has been an integral part of the carnival poster since 1958.

Francavilla al Mare Carnival is also the oldest in the region. The tradition began in 1948, when the local band “Zu-zù in search of Za-zà” performed along the streets of the town. So it was that in the following a proper organizing committee was formed that still organizes the event today. The first edition with floats, however, dates back to 1956. After a brief hiatus from 1974 to 1980, it started up again in a big way in 1981 and, year after year, was met with growing interest and participation.

The Francavilla carnival, however, is not only masks, parades and floats, but also a joy for the palate. As in the rest of the peninsula, the most authentic traditions of this holiday are found in the kitchen and mainly in typical desserts. The absolute queen of the carnival table is the cicerchiata, which is nothing more than a set of sweet dough balls fried in oil, which are then bound with honey in the shape of a doughnut and finally decorated with colored sprinkles. Other sweet creations typical of this period include: chiacchiere, mouth-watering sheets of fried dough with a crunchy texture that are served with a dusting of powdered sugar; and castagnole, fluffy pancakes whose shape resembles that of a chestnut.

The official dates for the Abruzzo Carnival, now in its 68th year, are Feb. 12, 19 and 21, 2023.

Photo © Carnival of Abruzzo

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