Author's Carnival (Santa Croce Carnival)

A unique carnival in the heart of the Leather District

The Author's Carnival, known to everyone as the Santa Croce Carnival, is the grand winter festival of Santa Croce sull'Arno, a town in the Province of Pisa in the heart of Tuscany. Its roots date back to 1928, when a group of locals decided to liven up the winter by wearing masks. From that gesture, a tradition was born that, edition after edition, has become an unmissable event in the Tuscan carnival calendar.

Leather masks: a local excellence

What makes this carnival truly special is its artisanal identity, deeply tied to the tanning industry of the Leather District. Unlike large carnivals featuring papier-mâché floats, the stars here are the handcrafted masks often made entirely of leather, a true local excellence. For over ninety years, hundreds of costumed participants have created a show of color, imagination, and manual skill that is unmatched in the region.

Four groups, a healthy rivalry

The heart of the event lies in the four historic carnival groups competing for the annual title: Nuova Luna, Nuovo Astro, La Lupa, and Gli Spensierati. Each group is assigned a different theme, around which they build costumes, choreography, and sets. The parades start from the festively decorated Piazza Matteotti and wind through the streets of the center amidst dancing, confetti, and streamers.

How it works

• The parades are held on three Sunday afternoons, starting at 3:30 PM in Piazza Matteotti.
• On the final day, the winning group of the edition is announced.
• The masked processions are accompanied by music, entertainment, local association stalls, and a lottery.
• On Fat Thursday, children's games are organized in the square, followed by a special evening event with a prize draw.

A community celebration

The Santa Croce Carnival is above all a popular, participatory festival, supported by the volunteer work of the carnevalai (carnival makers) and local associations. All proceeds from ticket sales go directly to supporting those who spend months building masks and sets. Visiting the Author's Carnival means discovering a living tradition that unites generations of the Santa Croce sull'Arno community around the art of leather and the joy of celebration.