The Historic Carnival of Pontecorvo, one of the most important ancient celebrations of this kind in Lazio, will be attended by thousands of participants from many territories.
The Float Parade at the Historic Carnival of Pontecorvo photo @ FB Carnevale di Pontecorvo
It is said that the first puppet parading during the Carnival was Alicandro, a huge papier-mâché elephant purchased in Naples in 1952.
Later, the Mazzamavere was added to the celebration, a tall figure with a black-painted face wrapped in a sheet, whose name seems to derive from the cry “Ammazza i Mori!” (Let us kill the Moors), launched by the inhabitants of Pontecorvo during the incursions of the Saracens.
In 1979, the character of the Princess was created, in memory of the “Queen of the Party” elected back in the ‘70s at the end of the renowned dancing evenings. The Princess paraded on a rickshaw, accompanied by her Court and His Majesty, the Carnival King. She was so important as to receive, during the Carnival, the keys of the city by the Mayor.
Today, the official mask of the Pontecorvo Carnival is Burlicchio, a sort of Harlequin with a Pinocchio’s nose with a truncheon in his hand.
Craftsmen at work to create the allegorical floats of the Pontecorvo Carnival -photo-@ FB Carnevale Pontecorvo
Each year, passioned talented artisans employ a unique technique to create these amazing colourful floats, by covering an iron-thread framework with recycled material, such as newspaper, clay and plaster.
The celebrations of the Historic Carnival of Pontecorvo among dances and songs and – photo @ FB Carnevale Pontecorvo
The Float Parade is usually held on two consecutive Sundays, while the award ceremony for the best float takes place at the end of the Carnival.