Ancient Carnival of Sutri

One of the oldest and most beloved carnivals in Tuscia

The Ancient Carnival of Sutri is the most anticipated winter event in Sutri, an Etruscan-era village in the province of Viterbo, officially recognized as one of Italy's most beautiful towns. For about two weeks, between late January and Shrove Tuesday, the historic center fills with masks, confetti, music, and the scent of frappe and castagnole pastries. The event is rooted in ancient folk rituals: once a time when the people, protected by their masks, could let go and embrace the joyful spirit of the festival at least once a year.

King Carnival, the papier-mâché sovereign

The absolute star is King Carnival, a giant papier-mâché puppet draped in robes, a ruler as benevolent as he is gluttonous. His triumphant entry through the Porta Morone Arch kicks off the children's carnival and precedes the parades of floats and masked groups. According to tradition, the King absorbs all the year's misfortunes; for this reason, at the end of the festival, he dies and is carried in a funeral procession through the historic center to the main square, where he is cremated in a grand propitiatory bonfire that concludes the celebrations.

Float parades and the saltarello

On Carnival Sundays, the town's main streets host parades of allegorical floats created by the Sutri Carnival Committee, accompanied by dozens of masked groups. At the end of each parade, the party moves to the Piazza del Comune for the saltarello, an ancient folk dance from the Roman countryside and Tuscia, performed together by all the masked groups: a moment of collective celebration that makes the Sutri Carnival unique in the Lazio region.

The children's carnival and dance parties

A special focus is placed on the little ones: the children's carnival features the triumphant arrival of King Carnival, traditional games, square entertainment with the mascot Nocciolina, magic shows, face painting, and sweets for everyone. The Municipal Gymnasium also hosts dance parties with dinner, school dances, and the grand masked ball on Shrove Monday.

The Commedia di Povero Checco and the grand finale

Shrove Tuesday is the most intense day: in the afternoon, the Commedia di Povero Checco is performed—a popular play that stands among the most beloved moments of the Sutri tradition—followed by the funeral procession of King Carnival accompanied by the town band and his spectacular cremation in the square, amidst music, staged tears, and applause.

A community festival in the Etruscan Lazio

Organized by the Pro Loco of Sutri in collaboration with the Municipality of Sutri and supported by the Sutri Carnival Committee and local associations, the Ancient Carnival of Sutri is a true community celebration that involves schools, families, and local districts. It is also an excellent opportunity to discover Sutri and its treasures: the Roman amphitheater carved into the tuff, the Mithraeum, and the Etruscan necropolises, all less than an hour from Rome in the heart of Lazio.