Alatri Carnival ("Long Live Carnival - The Silver Mask")

The Alatri Carnival, a local celebration in the heart of Ciociaria

Every February, as Shrove Tuesday approaches, the town of Alatri — an ancient Ernici city overlooking the Cosa river valley in the province of Frosinone — dresses up in confetti and streamers for its Carnival. This is not a spectacular carnival featuring massive allegorical floats like those in Viareggio or Acireale, but rather something more intimate and grassroots: a community celebration involving children, families, and masked groups, deeply rooted in Ciociaria tradition and organized by local associations.

The Silver Mask, the heart of the festival

The most anticipated moment is the "Silver Mask" competition, promoted for years by the Alatri Pro Loco. In Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, in the heart of the historic center, children and teenagers parade in their most imaginative costumes: the most original entries compete for the coveted award amidst music, entertainment, and joy. Registration takes place directly at the Pro Loco office, a sign of a festival built from the ground up with the direct participation of local families. The event has evolved over the years, even reinventing itself during the pandemic when the competition transformed into an online photo and video contest, proving just how deeply it is cherished by the city.

Two festive hubs: Alatri center and Tecchiena

The Alatri Carnival is not limited to the historic center but also embraces the village of Tecchiena, where the local Cultural Association organizes its own Mask Parade with a prize for the "Most Beautiful Golden Mask." Thus, on the same festive day, two squares in the city simultaneously enjoy an afternoon of cheer, offering residents and visitors a double event filled with masks, carnival sweets, and music.

A community tradition

The Alatri Carnival is part of the rich landscape of carnival celebrations in the province of Frosinone and Lazio, where every town preserves its own unique rites and customs. In Alatri, the spirit is one of shared celebration: the streets of the center, dominated by the imposing megalithic Acropolis and the Co-Cathedral of San Paolo, fill with laughter, colors, and costumes. It is the ideal opportunity to discover one of the most fascinating towns in Ciociaria during a moment of authentic popular vitality.

• Where: Alatri center (Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore) and the village of Tecchiena
• When: During the Carnival period, with the highlight on the weekend and Shrove Tuesday in February
• Organizers: Pro Loco of Alatri and Associazione Culturale Tecchiena
• For whom: Especially children and families, but open to everyone