History & Culture

Viareggio is known for two things: the sea and its Carnival. This small coastal city in the province of Lucca hosts one of the most important carnivals in the world. During the cheerful celebrations, the Viareggio promenade overflows with people, music, and the majestic Carri Allegorici (allegorical floats). The floats - made of paper mache - address the great themes of the contemporary world with a satiric approach: from national and international politics to the environment and society.

The Viareggio Carnival is an annual event, celebrating its 150th year in 2023. If you’re considering a trip to Tuscany this year, the Carnival parade will be running every Sunday through the month of February, with an additional parade on Shrove Tuesday, and it is definitely worth visiting during your trip.

In this article we will dive into the history of the carnival, including the artisanal know-how of Viareggio Carnival, and the traditions tied to this event. Keep reading if you want to know more!

Tuscany is a region with a rich cultural, artistic and architectural heritage. Among them there are also handmade products, witnesses of an ancient tradition that tells the history of this territory in many objects, artifacts and events.
Each Tuscan province has its artisan excellences; they are not always linked to food and wine and they exploit local raw materials and the arts handed down from generation to generation.
A Tuscany holiday also means discovering its craftsmanship by visiting the villages and cities where it is still possible to see how it is made. The ceramics of Montelupo, the alabaster of Volterra, the Sienese terracotta, the goldsmiths of Arezzo, are just some examples.
Tuscany also hosts numerous exhibitions dedicated to crafts, including: in Florence, between April and May, the International Handicraft Fair; in Figline Valdarno “ArtigianInPiazza” in May; the Handicraft Market Exhibition in Valtiberina, end of April beginning of May and many others.