Fervento Carnival

The Fervento Carnival, heart of Upper Valsesia

Nestled among stone houses and slate roofs in the hamlet of Fervento, within the municipality of Boccioleto (Province of Vercelli, Piedmont), the Carnival is one of the most cherished winter traditions. We are in the Upper Valsesia, in the branch of the valley known as Valsermenza that climbs toward Monte Rosa: a land of small alpine villages where traditional festivals defy time and keep the community's identity alive.

The Ballo dei Gatti and local masks

The most iconic moment is the famous Ballo dei Gatti (Dance of the Cats), held at the Boccioleto Theatre: an evening of music and masks that gives the local carnival its name. The days begin with the traditional village tour, as the festivities spill out into the streets, visiting residents door-to-door in a ritual of collective joy that has accompanied the Valsesian carnival season for generations.

Paniccia, a delicious tradition of solidarity

No Carnival in Valsesia is complete without paniccia, a soup made of rice and vegetables enriched with meat, cured sausages, and bread, slow-cooked for hours. Popular tradition links it to a charitable spirit: it is said to have been prepared to feed the poor and the inmates of the Varallo prisons. Today, it is still distributed to the population in a spirit of conviviality and remains one of the symbolic dishes of the entire Valsesian carnival.

Mountain dinners and conviviality

The program concludes with gastronomic events such as the Cena dei Nervetti, moments that transform the festival into a meeting point for the entire community of Boccioleto and neighboring towns. Everything is organized by the Pro Loco of Boccioleto, the true soul of the village's initiatives.

A Carnival to experience from within

The Fervento Carnival is not a major tourist attraction; it is a genuine, family-oriented village festival, perfect for those looking to discover the authentic carnival traditions of Upper Valsesia far from the crowds. Those who travel up here between February and March will find a corner of alpine Piedmont where roots still matter more than spectacle.