Frappe, castagnole and confetti descend on the piazzas of Lazio and Abruzzo to kick off Carnival 2025 celebrations. There are many carnival events that can be reached via the A24 and A25 highways including the not-to-be-missed events in Francavilla al Mare and Tivoli. Scheduled events are celebrated mainly on Shrove Tuesday.
Let’s start with the Tiburtine or Tivoli carnival , on the outskirts of Rome, recognized this year as “Historic Carnival” and includes shows, masks and lots of fun for young and old, strolling among the stalls and street food, with a program full of stationary and itinerant activities from Villa Adriana, to Campolimpido, from Tivoli Terme and the historic center, and that will last until March 4. Over the course of the event, 4 floats (3 in Tivoli and 1 in Villa Adriana) inspired by the Jubilee and ethnic inclusion themes will parade, and the city’s squares and streets will be filled with street performers, dancing masked groups, processions, and floats until the traditional burning of King Carnival at Piazza Garibaldi that will close the Mardi Gras festivities. Mascot of the event, Zibaldone, the official mask of the Tiburtine carnival.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES TO TIVOLI (RM)
From Rome it is advisable to take the A24 to enter through the Roma Est barrier and exit at Tivoli station. From there, once you exit, follow via Maremmana Inferiore/SP51a and SS5 towards vicolo delle Piagge in Tivoli and you have arrived at your destination.
From Teramo Drive along the A24 in the direction of Rome. We then recommend that you exit at the Castel Madama toll booth and continue on SP33a to Vicolo delle Piagge in Tivoli and arrive at your destination.
Another easily accessible route thanks to the A24 highway is Vicovaro: here it is the ProLoco that organizes three Masquerade Sundays, starting Feb. 16, which will see the highlight of the festivities on Sunday, March 2; the village has reached its 15th edition and will see 15 groups parade through the streets animating and coloring them with allegorical masks.
On the Adriatic side, the event not to be missed is the Carnevale d’Abruzzo , now in its 70th edition, held annually in Francavilla al Mare about 20 km from Chieti, organized under the patronage of the city of Francavilla al Mare and the Abruzzo Region. The Carnival of Francavilla is one of the most heartfelt celebrations, this year it will be held on the first date on February 23 and then close to Shrove Tuesday on the dates of March 2 and 4, enlivened by a grand parade of floats, the work of expert local papier-mâché artists since 1948. As every year, the parade is inspired by the caricature and satire of current characters and events, and associations, folk groups and small orchestras will take part, but above all children masked for the occasion. This event winds along the central streets of the city, attracting spectators far beyond regional borders.
Traditionally, the typical masks of the Abruzzo Carnival are: King Carnevale, who represents the past year and is a symbol of destruction-creation, the Widow (played strictly by a man), the Doctor, the Notary, the Carabinieri and the Apothecary. But we also cannot fail to mention the Abruzzese Punchinello, which is different from the Neapolitan one because it comes with a huge flowery conical headdress, adorned with zagarelle (ribbons and laces) and wears a white dress with red stitching. Inevitable are the whistle and whips to make a racket. Abruzzo is a place that has preserved a direct line with the past, not only because of the beautiful and unspoiled landscapes, but also because of the traditions that are respected and passed down from generation to generation, thus creating an immense heritage of intangible assets, made up of ancient gestures, customs, recipes, holidays and sayings.
RECOMMENDED ROUTES TO REACH FRANCAVILLA AL MARE (CH)
From Rome take the A24, enter at the Roma Est toll booth and continue on the A24 to the Torano interchange. From Torano continue on the A25 to Piattelli until you exit at Pescara Sud-Francavilla al Mare from A14/E55. Once you exit take contrada Quercia Notarrocco, via Raffaele Paolucci and via del Convento towards via Barbella and arrive at your destination.
From Teramo via the A24 take the Teramo-Mare freeway from A25 and follow to Piattelli. From there take the Pescara Sud-Francavilla al Mare exit from E55. Continue and take contrada Quercia Notarrocco, via Raffaele Paolucci and via del Convento towards via Barbella and you have arrived at your destination.
Last but not least , the Carnival of Schiavi d’Abruzzo. Every year, the small village of Schiavi d’Abruzzo, in the province of Chieti, comes alive with the colors and traditions of its characteristic Carnival. The stars of the festival are the “Mazzaroni,” young people from the village who parade through the streets wearing the striking “Cimiero,” a headdress adorned with bright paper flowers and multicolored ribbons. Leading the procession is the emblematic figure of “Pulcinella,” who wields a mace, a symbol of authority and renewal. For the 2025 edition, the Schiavi d’Abruzzo Carnival will take place on Saturday, March 1, and Tuesday, March 4, promising an explosion of folklore and merriment.
