Floats, music, and confetti between Cerenova and the center of Cerveteri
In the municipality of Cerveteri, located in the province of Rome and in the heart of the ancient Lazio Etruscan region, the Carnival is one of the most anticipated winter events. The festival is split between the coastal district of Cerenova and the town center, involving thousands of people, families, and school groups in a weekend of parades, music, and cheer. The event is organized by the Pro Loco delle Due Casette, which builds the allegorical floats every year in collaboration with local neighborhoods and associations.
The heart of the Carnival is the grand parade of allegorical floats, which travels through the city streets accompanied by music, confetti, and special effects. Colorful masks, costumed groups, and choreography bring the procession to life, while local schools participate with great enthusiasm: over the years, the parades have involved more than a thousand masked children and several schools from the coast. It is a deeply popular festival that strengthens the bond between the two souls of the municipality: the seaside atmosphere of Cerenova and the medieval charm of the village of Cerveteri.
Alongside the parades, the Carnival program offers shows and activities for children. In the evocative Sala Ruspoli, interactive theatrical performances and creative workshops are held, giving children the chance to color and decorate their own Carnival masks. These events, promoted by the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Cerveteri, are free of charge and complete a schedule designed for the whole family.
Experiencing the Cerveteri Carnival also means discovering a territory rich in history: the town is famous for the Banditaccia Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an extraordinary testament to the Etruscan civilization. The Carnival adds a touch of color and lightness to a Lazio village with millennial charm, offering visitors the opportunity to combine popular tradition, local gastronomy, and walks among ancient ruins just a few kilometers from the Roman coast.
The result of the volunteer work of the Pro Loco delle Due Casette, local neighborhoods, and schools, the Cerveteri and Cerenova Carnival is much more than a simple parade: it is a moment of collective participation that involves both young and old, giving children and families the chance to come together in the streets to celebrate the most playful season of the year.
The 2026 edition of the Cerveteri and Cerenova Carnival opened on Saturday, February 14 with the parade in Cerenova, starting from the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi, and continued on Sunday, February 15 along the gardens up to Piazza Aldo Moro in the center of Cerveteri. Allegorical floats, music, confetti, and special effects accompanied the two days, with the participation of schools and hundreds of masked children.
For Fat Tuesday, the historic parade in the center of Cerveteri and the theatrical performance by the company Le Odissere in Sala Ruspoli were also scheduled: the final events were cancelled as a sign of mourning for the passing of a young fellow citizen, while the floats remained on display at Piazzale del Granarone to be admired by children and school groups.
Cerveteri and the district of Cerenova are located along the coast north of Rome. By car, they can be reached via the A12 Rome-Civitavecchia motorway (Cerveteri-Ladispoli exit). By train, the Marina di Cerveteri-Cerenova station is served by the FL5 regional line (Rome-Civitavecchia).
The Carnival parades and shows are free of charge.
This is a family-friendly event: we recommend arriving early to find a spot along the parade route and coming in costume.
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Cerenova e centro di Cerveteri