Battipaglia Carnival «Giù la Maschera»

The Carnival that lights up Battipaglia

Every year, between February and March, the center of Battipaglia changes its look: the streets that usually bustle with the traffic of the Piana del Sele are filled with confetti, music, and masks. The «Giù la Maschera» Carnival is now the city's most anticipated popular event, drawing crowds from neighboring towns in the province of Salerno, Campania.

An event that grows year by year

Founded in the mid-2010s by a group of enthusiasts, «Giù la Maschera» reached its eleventh edition in 2026. The organization is managed by the ASD A.V.E. association, led by Gianluca Falcone, working under the patronage of the Municipality of Battipaglia. The model follows that of Italy's great carnivals but on a deliberately local scale: the floats are built by local artisans, associations, and volunteers, each telling a different story, from fairy-tale themes to social satire.

The parade of allegorical floats

The highlight is the parade of allegorical floats, which winds through the city's main axis in the afternoon. The procession starts at the roundabout between Via Belvedere and Via Clarizia, travels along Via Roma and Via Mazzini, and concludes at the intersection with Via Pastore. Behind each float, masked groups, dance schools, and costumed performers march: hundreds of people who have spent weeks preparing choreographies, music, and outfits. In the 2025 edition, nineteen floats participated, featuring a grand evening finale enhanced by light shows.

Piazza Amendola, the children's kingdom

The second hub of the festival is Piazza Amendola, transformed for the occasion into a permanent entertainment area. Here, mascots, street performers, face painters, confetti cannons, and bubble machines take turns, while baby dance sessions set the pace for the afternoons. The «Most Beautiful Mask» contest, reserved for the little ones, is one of the most popular events for families.

More than just floats: the other souls of the Carnival

The main program is complemented by other local associations, extending the festivities over several days.

• The Circolo Teatrale Castelluccio presents the «Masks, Colors, Music and Tradition» festival, featuring entertainment, jugglers, and an evening Grand Masquerade Ball in Piazza Amendola.
• The Pro Loco Batti la Paglia, together with the Pro Loco «A Castelluccia», officially opens the season with the ceremony of handing over the city keys to the local mascot, Spigariello, in the presence of the municipal administration.
• The «Most Beautiful Mask» contest and the parade with the Prince and the Castellana complete the calendar.

A free, open-air street festival

All activities take place in the streets and squares of the center and are free to attend. To allow the floats to pass, the Municipality issues an annual traffic ordinance: during the event days, parking and transit restrictions are in place on Via Belvedere, Via Piave, Via Roma, Via Mazzini, and the side streets of Piazza Amendola, while public transport lines are diverted to alternative routes.

Why it's worth visiting

«Giù la Maschera» is not a postcard-perfect carnival: it is a festival the city builds for itself, with its artisans, associations, and neighborhoods. Anyone in the Piana del Sele in winter will find an authentic opportunity to see Battipaglia from the inside, amidst music, confetti, and the slow passage of floats along Via Roma. It is also a great starting point to discover a territory that combines the Cilento coast, the agricultural plains famous for buffalo mozzarella, and the temples of Paestum, all just a few kilometers away.