Calliano Carnival – Maccheronata

A carnival tradition in the heart of Vallagarina

The Calliano Maccheronata is one of the most deeply rooted events of the Vallagarina Carnival, the grand festival that brings dozens of villages in the Adige Valley, in the province of Trento, to life every winter. In the municipality of Calliano, the celebration revolves around a gesture as simple as it is symbolic: the distribution of pasta with meat sauce to all participants, served directly in the central Piazza Italia starting at noon.

For over forty years, the village has transformed into one single, cheerful open-air banquet: families, children in costume, groups of friends, and visitors from neighboring towns line up for a plate of steaming macaroni, in a spirit of sharing that is the very essence of the Trentino Carnival.

The Vallagarina Carnival

The Calliano Maccheronata is part of the Vallagarina Carnival calendar, a widespread initiative involving numerous municipalities in the valley—from Brentonico to the Valli del Leno, from Ala and Avio to the Val di Gresta, passing through Isera, Nogaredo, Pomarolo, Nomi, Besenello, and, of course, Calliano. In each village, for weeks, there is a succession of maccheronate, parades of allegorical floats, masked groups, entertainment, and music. The common thread is the popular banquet: each village offers its own traditional dish, from macaroni with meat sauce to gnocchi, and from polenta to bigoi.

The "maccheronada de Caliam"

In Calliano, the event is affectionately known in the local dialect as maccheronada de Caliam and is organized by the local Maccheroni Committee with the support of village associations. The preparation requires days of work: huge pots of sauce, tons of pasta, and dozens of volunteers at the stoves. The festival is not just about gastronomy: music, entertainment, and the color of masks fill the square on a Sunday that has marked the village's Carnival for generations.

• Where: Piazza Italia, in the center of Calliano
• When: In the heart of the carnival period, from 12:00 PM
• What: Distribution of pasta with meat sauce for everyone
• Admission: Free

An event for the whole community

The Maccheronata is an event designed for all ages and is deeply tied to the identity of Calliano and the entire Vallagarina. In a Trentino often associated with mountains and summer festivals, the valley Carnival shows a convivial and popular side, where the celebration takes place in village squares and around a long, shared table. For those visiting Trentino-Alto Adige at the end of winter, it is an authentic opportunity to experience a local tradition far from the most beaten tourist paths.