{"id":5377,"date":"2015-02-14T08:47:43","date_gmt":"2015-02-14T07:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=5377"},"modified":"2015-02-14T08:47:43","modified_gmt":"2015-02-14T07:47:43","slug":"carnival-parade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/carnival-parade\/","title":{"rendered":"When was the last time you danced along the streets in a carnival parade?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oristano and the medieval carnival<\/h2>\n

The main event during the carnival period is the \u201cSartiglia\u201d<\/strong>, a carousel dating back to the Middle Ages.
\nNowadays, the knights in white masks and black, wooden caps launch themselves on their horses trying to catch a target in the shape of a \u201cstar\u201d.
\nA recent novelty is the \u201cSas pariglias\u201d<\/strong>– acrobatic moves performed by knights standing on horses running side by side: quite an awesome sight.
\nWhere to stay for a night or more?Albergo Diffuso Aquae Sinis<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Sartiglia<\/a>
Knights at the Sariglia in Oristano (Sardinia) photography by Vincenzo Fileccia via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

Acireale, the most beautiful carnival of Sicily<\/h2>\n

An endless parade of floats, people drifting by in colourful, striking masks, music everywhere and the natural scenario of the Baroque architecture: this is, for sure, Sicily\u2019s most vibrant and joyful carnival parade.
\nThe beginnings of this parade date back to the 16th century and just few years later the locals started the tradition of the \u201cEgg and orange battle\u201d<\/strong>, which became an instant hit.
\nBut the local authorities decided to put a stop to the chaos 10 years later in 1612.
\nIf the battle tradition is definitely over though, its spirit is still alive and kicking: the \u201cAbbattazzu\u201d<\/strong> mask is a parody of a holy, old man walking around holding heavy books and making fun of the old Bishops of Catania.
\nA place close to the Etna vulcan and Acireale?Agriturismo Biologico dell\u2019Etna<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Carnival<\/a>
The most beautiful carnival of Sicily, the Carnival of Acireale (Catania) photography by Toto via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

Fano, the sweetest carnival of Italy<\/h2>\n

The sweetest carnival of Italy is also one of the oldest.
\nReports date back to 1347 and it\u2019s likely that these very first carnivals came from the Latin Saturnali, the antique Roman celebrations where every indulgence was permitted, but only for a short time.
\nThese excesses reach their climax on the last Sunday of the carnival period, when two main events take place:
\n\u201cIl Pupo\u201d<\/strong>: a black rag doll is paraded around the city streets, ending in front of a big wooden pile where the doll is thrown down and burnt.
\nThe miserable, black scapegoat burns, to purge the winter icy weather and all the negative things in the past. It\u2019s a kind of cathartic fire;
\n\u201cMask carnival parade\u201d<\/strong>: floats, masks and musical bands take over the city and all types of sweets rain down.
\nKids adore it\u2026and not just the kids!
\nWhere to sleep in the nearabouts?B&B Le Tamerici<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t