Carnival of San Romano | Montopoli in Val d’Arno

The Sanromanese Carnival, established in 1992, takes place in San Romano over three Sundays: 1, 8 and 15 February (with a possible additional day on 22 February).

Every year, nursery school children choose the theme for the parades from a fairy tale or story. The theme is then brought to life with the construction of four floats, four train carriages and costumes worn by children and entertainers. On the final day, gifts and snacks are handed out.

As per tradition, Carnival is preceded by intense preparations in which the entire town participates: the lion’s share of the work goes into preparing the floats and costumes, with intense and patient work by seamstresses and float builders, assisted by adults and children alike. There is great enthusiasm for putting up the carnival decorations, preparing traditional sweets such as bugie and chiacchiere, and exhibiting the children’s drawings of carnival masks. A highlight is the Baby Band, a musical group made up of dozens of children who, after lengthy preparation with the help of their teachers and the local music school, open the masked parades every year.