I don’t know how long it takes to make the floats on parade in the streets of Viareggio, but I am willing to bet that they are working on next year’s right now. Some are spectaular, all are clever and obviously made with love. I have favourites which I will show in detail in later posts. Here is an overview of the parade.
bright colours and a perfect day
This float had a message about the environment, especially water.
water is scarce
handling our water resources
don’t waste a drop
there will be more on this one later
This is my favourite float. Click here to see more of him.
this one had something to say about politics
I think you can guess what it is about
I’m not sure what this one is about
don’t look now
jaws
say aah
what do you call a group of jellyfish?
this one is self explanatory
it became more interesting when it started moving
the elephant was fun too
and the dancing
spring is coming
a very big pink grasshoper
a more traditional one
there are people in there
the colours of Africa
beautiful Africa
tragic Africa
there was music
interesting instruments
another
and happy people
there has to be a dragon
closer
his mates
nice teeth
some were smaller
giant snail
balancing something
she has a parrot on her head
a simple message for peace
very colourful
more later on this one
all about greed
greedy but happy
the other side
back view
those on board
a political one – I don’t know who they are
politicians again?
more on this one later
I think you will agree that these floats are incredible. I will show you some more detail on my favourites later.
Click here to see the parade in 2012.
Wow, I mean WOW! Those are such fabulous photos, I bet your eyes were still whirling at the end of the day. I can’t take them all in right now so I’m going to come back later and really savour these. I’m going to put a link to this post in the sidebar of my blog too xx Joanna
By: Joanna @ Zeb Bakes on March 10, 2011
at 9:54 am
I had to lie down in a dark roomthe next day.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 9:55 am
It all looks fantastic! My only Karneval experience was in Aachen, Germany. That was really good fun, but this is far more elaborate, and political too, from the look of it.
Carnevale in Italy some time!
By: Richard Tulloch on March 10, 2011
at 10:36 am
Some of the floats were very eleborate. I wish I knew more about Italian politics, so I knew who they were rubbishing.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 3:13 pm
A-MAY-zing…I’m looking at them with my children… and it’s just ooh and aah non-stop.
By: The Daily Cure on March 10, 2011
at 10:47 am
I’m sure your children would love it.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 3:13 pm
FABULOUS!
By: mary D on March 10, 2011
at 11:01 am
It certainly was.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 3:11 pm
debra: very cool. that is the wonder of italy, having so many different cities so close to each other and to be able to take day trips and see the magic of each city. very cool.
george m.
By: george miori on March 10, 2011
at 4:10 pm
Bagni di Lucca is quite central for lots of things, which is one of the reasons we chose to buy a place here. I often go to the coast nearby, there is so much to see.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 4:14 pm
I love all the color and activity!
I’m in need of a very colorful parade- or just Spring!
Thanks, Debra, you brightened my day.
By: heidi on March 10, 2011
at 7:37 pm
It was a beautiful day on the day of the parade and the floats were amazing. Thanks for visiting.
By: bagnidilucca on March 10, 2011
at 8:19 pm
What a colourful vibrant procession! beautiful against the blue sky too 🙂
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on March 11, 2011
at 4:08 am
It is incredible, you will have to come next year.
By: bagnidilucca on March 11, 2011
at 5:01 am
Such intricacy! I love them all. I want to choose a favourite but am really struggling to do so. Thank you for fuelling my passion for Italy. Is Carnevale a country wide celebration, does it take this form everywhere?
By: The General (aka: Mommy) on March 11, 2011
at 6:51 am
I have chosen 4 that I really liked and they will be shown in more detail on coming posts. Carnevale happens all over Italy in one form or another. Of course, there is the one in Venice, but each town usually does something to celebrate. There was a little festival here in the village for the children. Unfortunately it was on the same day as the parade in Viareggio, so I wasn’t here to photograph the children all dressed up, next year.
By: bagnidilucca on March 11, 2011
at 7:14 am
WOW… wow….. loved the dragon, but whats not to love with it all.
By: Anna Johnston on March 11, 2011
at 8:37 am
They were all fabulous. It was a great day.
By: bagnidilucca on March 11, 2011
at 8:41 am
Those pictures look like it was so much fun. Great contrast with the colours of the floats and the blue of the sky. Sooo much work has gone into all the floats!
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on March 12, 2011
at 9:14 am
It must take forever to get them ready for the parade. Each one had dozens of people on board – all in costume.
By: bagnidilucca on March 12, 2011
at 2:27 pm
The guy in the jellyfish costume looked a little bit like the Pope thinking, “I wonder, if I wear this costume, whether I can sneak out and enjoy the fun without anyone noticing…!”
By: Amber Venner on March 13, 2011
at 2:27 am
I love the old man in the jellyfish costume! Yes, he does look Pope like.
By: bagnidilucca on March 13, 2011
at 2:37 am
Colorful pictures. How nice to have such carneval where you can assist.
By: Fragolina on March 14, 2011
at 9:58 am
Absolutely fantastic photos, you’ve truly captured the spirit of the Viareggio Carnevale. All great posts on this, and I love your photos generally. I live here in Ponte a Serraglio, but your photos often make me see my own town in a new way!
By: From a Tuscan Villa on March 16, 2011
at 4:09 pm
Thank you. I loved the Carnevale. I have been before, but I thought this year was especially good. There is so much to photograph at Ponte a Serraglio, I will never run out of subjects.
By: bagnidilucca on March 16, 2011
at 6:04 pm
Fabulous. Coming to Monti de Ville in July. Plan overnight in Viareggio Can you recommend nice and inexpensive accomodation for 1 or 2 nights. also when is Carnevale? Great blog. Really looking forward to learning from it.
By: tina Andreucetti. on April 13, 2012
at 1:22 pm
I haven’t stayed in Viareggio but I did stay at Nautilus in Forte dei Marmi, not far away and it was good. I prefer Forte dei Marmi to Viareggio anyway. We always have lunch at Il Fortino. There are a couple of posts about it.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 13, 2012
at 8:00 pm