Candia Carnival

A Lomellina Tradition

The Candia Carnival is the Carnival festival of Candia Lomellina, a municipality in the province of Pavia in the heart of Lomellina. It is celebrated on Fat Tuesday and features the Bella Pierina, a human-like effigy that has been the symbol of the festival for half a century.

The Parade and the Trial

The evening begins in the Peschiera district, where the Bella Pierina is taken from her "home" for a historical procession through the town, with participants in 17th-century costumes. The procession arrives in Piazza San Carlo, where the theatre company I Magatlòn stages the traditional trial of the Pierina, a highlight blending popular theatre and satire.

The Bonfire That Changes Meaning

Traditionally, the festival culminated with the burning of the Pierina. In 2026, however, the Bella Pierina will not be burned: a decision by the municipal administration as a sign of respect, following the Crans Montana tragedy and in condemnation of femicides. Instead, containers with the year's "bad thoughts" — wars, suffering, cruelty — will be burned, with active participation from local schoolchildren. "The choice not to burn the effigy of a young woman," explained the mayor, "is a conscious break from tradition to express respect."

Festival and Civic Memory

The Candia Carnival thus shows how a popular festival can renew itself while keeping its roots alive and, at the same time, become a spokesperson for a civic message. A deeply felt event for the community of Candia Lomellina, intertwining tradition, theatre, and social commitment.