Colors of Viareggio - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Every year Viareggio hosts a beautiful carnival, which is considered one of the most daring and unforgettable holidays in Italy. For the first time the celebration was organized in 1873. At that time representatives of the local aristocracy decided to make a beautiful parade. Fabulous luxury carriages drove through the streets of the city, and local poor people took the advantage of the opportunity, dressed up in costumes and started making fun of local politicians and noble people.

In the memory of that brilliant event was organized a parade of carts in Viareggio, which has been celebrated till our days. As a rule, figures of famous politicians and stars are put in these carts. For many years Burlamacco has remained the main symbol of the holiday. The author of the fantastic character is a famous Italian painter Uberto Bonetti. Burlamacco appeared in the festival for the first time back in 1930. The face of the hero is hidden by a colorful mask, which has become the main emblem of the festival. The name of the fantastic character is connected with several interesting legends.

For example, according to one version he was named in honor of the city's main channel of Burlamacco, which crosses entire Viareggio and is considered one of its major attractions. According to another version, the character was named after a famous literary character Buffalmacco, which is also characterized by a witty and daring character. According to the third version, Burlamacco is the pseudonym of the artist as he used this name to sign his paintings and cartoons created for local comic magazines. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The carnival is always accompanied by various interesting events. In addition to a parade of chariots the squares of the city host interesting humorous presentations, children's performances and entertaining competitions. On the day of celebration here are opened numerous souvenir shops where visitors can buy beautiful carnival masks, costumes and souvenirs. The carnival traditionally attracts a large number of foreign tourists who come there in order to get acquainted with local culture and customs.

The celebration is traditionally accompanied by colorful fairs, where visitors can try delicious food and buy interesting handicrafts made by local artisans. On the day of the carnival you can small cozy cafes simply everywhere. They lure visitors with aroma of sweets and pastries. The celebration is especially liked by children who are delighted with huge choice of sweets and toys.

Residents of the city with a beautiful name of Viareggio can in no way be reproached for being reserved or impolite. Used to the influx of tourists, they are always ready to help or share some tips if travelers are in trouble. Their most attractive features are emotionality and openness. Of course, the main value is the family, and especially mothers, they are treated with special respect here. It is customary to indulge children, and therefore there are no Italians dissatisfied with their life - it's not easy to meet such a pessimistic person.

Everybody knows about the special attitude of Italians towards food, and Viareggio is no exception in this regard. Any meal is equivalent to a kind of feast, and after such a colorful festival people need some rest (we're talking about an afternoon siesta, which can last up to 5:00 pm). This fact should be taken into account by anyone who wants to go to a grocery store or any other institution at this time. In this case, do not waste your time in vain - just try to learn such a relaxed attitude to life from locals.

Viareggio’s traditional cuisine includes seafood, bread, meat, cheese, olive oil and olives, and, of course, wine. Once in the city, it's definitely worth to try such dishes as “Pappa Col Pomodoro” (tomato soup with spices and olive oil), Acquacotta (soup of bread, green salad, eggs, mushrooms with cheese), Pecorino caldo con olio (baked sheep cheese sprinkled with olive oil), Castagnaccio (pie with pine nuts), Cantuccini (biscuits with pine nuts and almonds). When it comes to wines, there is a really vast choice here - Chianti Rufina, Bolgheri Rosso, Morellino di Scansano, Galestro, Parrina Bianco and Bolgheri Rosato.

In early August, visitors to Viareggio can witness the Sea Sound Music Festival. The event takes place in Cittadella del Carnevale di Viareggio. Thus, the event is closely connected with the famous previously mentioned carnival. And this is a kind of its continuation - because this is 12 hours of music, confetti, dance shows, comedy performances - in short, all the entertainment you can imagine and everything associated with the famous carnival. Traditionally, the entire arena will be animated, and DJs won't let anyone get bored. The event is organized through crowdfunding.

In mid-October, gourmets gather in the central city streets to join the Original Truck Food Festival Viareggio. At this time, everyone who is particularly fond of food has a chance to taste the best dishes presented at the festival. The main action takes place on Terrazza della Repubblica. This is not only a rich gastronomic program but also such entertainment as music that sounds from everywhere inviting people to join the significant event.

In early September, the city hosts Versilia Sport Summer Festival - at this time you can watch sports competitions in football, beach rugby, and volleyball. Hundreds of enthusiasts and athletes come here from all over Europe to show their skills in Stadio dei Pini and Darsena Viareggio arena. The event is very multifaceted and attracts hundreds of people wishing to watch interesting competitions and, of course, cheer up for their “favorites”, because at the moment of the competition they need support more than ever.

Another must-visit musical event is Festival Pucciniano. It is held at the end of August in Torre del Lago, a town located near Viareggio. At its time, you can listen to classical works (operas, operettas) of the great composer performed by talented and famous musicians and orchestras. The event is definitely worth the attention of all those passionate about this genre and looking for some romance. The atmosphere of the festival is just what they need. The most famous musical works - “Madame Butterfly”, “Tosca”, “La Boheme” are also included.