Foiano della Chiana Carnival

Italy's oldest carnival

The Foiano della Chiana Carnival, held in the town of Foiano della Chiana in the province of Arezzo, is considered the oldest in Italy: the first written records date back to 1539, rooted in the rural traditions of the Tuscan Valdichiana. For nearly five centuries, this tradition has allowed the community to poke fun at authority and stage the social tensions of their time with irony and satire. Today, it is one of Tuscany's most beloved street festivals, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from across Italy.

The battle of the four districts

The heart of the festival is the rivalry between the four cantieri (the historic local districts): Azzurri, Bombolo, Nottambuli, and Rustici. Each district spends an entire year working in strict secrecy on their papier-mâché allegorical float: monumental works, dozens of meters high and animated by complex mechanisms, which tackle current events, politics, society, cinema, and culture with a satirical edge. The floats are only revealed to the public on the day of the first parade, and throughout the carnival Sundays, a jury awards points to determine the winning district of the edition.

Parades, masks, and King Giocondo

Every Sunday during the festival, the historic center of Foiano transforms into a grand open-air theater: the floats emerge in the morning and circle the town in two afternoon parades, accompanied by masked groups, brass bands, confetti, and thousands of participants. The symbolic figure of the event is King Giocondo, a puppet made of rags and straw that embodies the archaic spirit of the carnival: his burning in the main square on the final Sunday marks the end of the festivities, celebrating the end of winter and the hope for rebirth.

A month-long celebration

Beyond the parades, the Foiano Carnival calendar includes the official presentation conference with the drawing of the float order, art exhibitions at the Furio Del Furia Gallery, musical performances, and numerous side events that bring the Valdichiana village to life throughout the festival period. It is the perfect opportunity to discover Foiano della Chiana and its surroundings, nestled among the most picturesque hills and villages of southern Tuscany.