Carnival of the Best

The Carnival of the Best in Luserna San Giovanni

The Carnival of the Best is the carnival event that the Pro Loco of Luserna San Giovanni has brought to Piazza Partigiani, in the heart of the Val Pellice municipality in the Province of Turin. The concept is as simple as it is evocative: instead of organizing a local parade, the most award-winning allegorical floats of the season—those that triumphed in the famous '2 Provinces' carnival competition in Saluzzo—are invited to the town. For an entire afternoon, the floats remain on display in the square, giving everyone the chance to admire months of craftsmanship up close.

Award-winning floats on display

The first edition brought together the three winning floats from the Saluzzo competition, accompanied by the numerous performers who bring them to life during the parades:

• Appesi ad un filo (Hanging by a thread) — Desbela group from Scalenghe
• La foresta delle illusioni (The forest of illusions) — Amici del Pellice
• Il re del ritmo: la musica unisce il mondo (The king of rhythm: music unites the world) — Amici di Piobesi

Seeing the floats up close, stationary and illuminated, is a different experience compared to a moving parade: you can appreciate the details of the papier-mâché, the mechanisms, the lights, and all the artistic care that makes each construction a small, traveling masterpiece.

A festival for the whole family

In addition to the float exhibition, the day offers bouncy castles for children and various food stalls set up in the square, making the event a perfect gathering place for families and local residents. It is an appointment designed to be enjoyed in the square during the late afternoon and evening, amidst colors, music, and gastronomy.

Luserna San Giovanni and the Val Pellice

Luserna San Giovanni is the most populous municipality in the Val Pellice, established in 1871 from the merger of Luserna and San Giovanni. It is located about fifty kilometers from Turin, crossed by the Pellice and Luserna streams, and is known for its historic Waldensian community and the prized Luserna stone. Piazza Partigiani, in the Airali district next to the town hall, is the civic heart of the town and the natural setting for the events of the Pro Loco, which has always been committed to restoring the richness of past festivals and events to the town.