Venice is famous for her large-scale, colourful, indulgent carnival celebrations but did you know that Tuscany has another hot-spot for a serious party every February? The Carnevale di Viareggio is, in fact, actually one of the most renowned carnival celebrations in both Italy and Europe, even if it is less familiar to some. So, if you are looking to enjoy a villa in Tuscany and a great party then you should book your stay in a vacation rental in Viareggio for this February!
The very first carnival event in the city was held in 1873 and was organised by a group of middle class men who created a parade of floats that were decorated with flowers. However, this then became a protest rather than a celebration, when citizens who were frustrated with rates of taxation donned masks to conceal their identities and made their opinions known. Fun once again took over from political action and the parade became an annual fixture in town, alongside other events as part of a carnival festival. While there were some years in which the carnival did not take place – namely throughout both world wars – the Carnevale di Viareggio became a key part of the town’s annual calendar and only grew and grew throughout the second half of the 20th century onwards. Today, it is a major draw to this gorgeous city on the Tuscan Coast and a great reason to book a holiday rental in Viareggio during the month of February.
