Fanano Carnival

The most heartfelt Carnival in the Modena Apennines

In the heart of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, at the foot of Monte Cimone, the Fanano Carnival is the most anticipated event of the winter for the small municipality in the province of Modena, a village awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano. For one day, the historic center fills with colors, confetti, music, and masks: the parade of allegorical floats crosses the town, transforming streets and squares into a large open-air stage, where young and old gather to celebrate together.

The Frascona Family and the centenary masks

The symbol of the Fanano Carnival is the Frascona Family, created around 1955 from the idea of elementary school teacher Paolo Mario Bellettini. Its three masks represent the simple people who lived in the Fanano area between the 19th and 20th centuries: the father Tamburlano, a prototype of the strong and straightforward mountain man, the mother Bronza, faithful to her husband but even more so to genuine wine, and the son Giocondino, always intent on "modernizing" his parents. Dressed in rustic clothes, these figures have become the identity of the festival over the years.

The zirudéla, the town's rhyming satire

The highlight of the day is the speech by the Frascona Family, with the reading of the zirudéla: a satirical rhyming composition in dialect, which affectionately pokes fun at the events and characters of the past year. Alda Poli and Livio Ballerini, historical authors of the texts, are the custodians of this tradition, entrusting it to the three centenary masks. It is a ritual that makes popular culture and the local language the true protagonists of the Carnival.

A festival for the whole family

After the parade, the afternoon continues with entertainment, live music, DJ sets, and fun activities designed especially for children, including dancing, shows, and inflatables. Along the streets of the center, there are also stalls and food stands with specialties from the Modena Apennines. The Fanano Carnival is a free and popular event, an authentic expression of the conviviality of this village in the Emilia-Romagna Region, where tradition is renewed every year with the participation of the entire community.