Foiano della Chiana Summer Carnival

Italy's oldest carnival, in its summer version

The Foiano della Chiana Summer Carnival is the seasonal evolution of a tradition that has been passed down in Foiano for nearly five centuries. Documents from the Community Statute of 1539 already attest to the celebration of the "Carnovale," which is why Foiano proudly claims the title of Italy's oldest carnival. While the main event remains the winter edition, for several years now, the town in the Province of Arezzo has also hosted a summer version that kicks off the EstArte cultural calendar, offering a night of celebration in the heart of the Tuscan Valdichiana.

The four 'cantieri' and the papier-mâché giants

The soul of the Foiano Carnival lies in its four cantieri (workshops)—Azzurri, Bombolo, Nottambuli, and Rustici—which spend the entire year building monumental papier-mâché allegorical floats, true moving sculptures several meters high. Even in summer, the friendly rivalry between these workshops remains the driving force of the festival: masks, groups, and performers bring the historic center to life with parades, dancing, and music, recreating the wild atmosphere that draws tens of thousands of visitors to the town every winter.

The Cena dei Mille

The most anticipated moment of the Summer Carnival is the Cena dei Mille: the allegorical shipyard square transforms into a massive open-air dining hall where hundreds of people—over 1,500 in recent editions—dine together amidst music, toasts, and conviviality. It is a community ritual that highlights the popular and joyful spirit of the Carnival, with the evening continuing with DJ sets until late at night.

A festival for the entire Valdichiana

Over two weekends in June, the Summer Carnival turns Foiano della Chiana into a sprawling stage, spanning Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the town squares, and the shipyard area. The 2025 edition brought over 6,000 people to town over two days, including young people, families, and curious visitors from all over Tuscany. Included in the rich EstArte program, which animates Foiano and the village of Pozzo della Chiana from June to September, the Summer Carnival is now a staple of the Arezzo summer, successfully blending centuries-old tradition with a love for community.