Historical Carnival of Persiceto

A carnival that tells stories

The Historical Carnival of Persiceto is one of the oldest and most distinctive carnival events in the Bolognese area. It takes place in the historic center of San Giovanni in Persiceto, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Bologna in Emilia-Romagna, and its roots date back to the 19th century. Every year, between late January and February, Piazza del Popolo transforms into an open-air theater for a celebration that intertwines satire, folk art, and mechanical ingenuity.

The 'Spillo': the heart of the tradition

The element that makes the Persiceto carnival unique is the 'Spillo', a registered trademark. The allegorical floats, made of papier-mâché by carnival societies, do not just parade: at a precise moment, they perform a mechanical and scenic transformation of their structure, revealing a hidden allegorical meaning and thus completing the satirical narrative. It is a performative ritual that requires months of planning and has led the Carnival of Persiceto to be nominated for UNESCO intangible heritage.

Bertoldo, masks, and 'zirudelle'

The festival is led by the official masks: King Bertoldo, Prince Bertoldino, and Queen Marcolfa, who officially open the event with the famous "Speech from the Crown." Alongside the float parades, there are the 'zirudelle', satirical compositions in the Persiceto dialect, individual and group masked parades, and events dedicated to families and children.

The key days

The carnival is spread over two main Sundays: the first features the float parades, the 'spilli' performances, and the recitation of the 'zirudelle'; the second hosts the final parades and the awards ceremony, with a jury assigning prizes to the best floats. The program is enriched by collateral events such as the "Camminata della Corte" (Walk of the Court), guided tours, and street food.

A twin event in San Matteo della Decima

In the same season, the hamlet of San Matteo della Decima celebrates its own historical carnival organized by the Re Fagiolo di Castella Association, forming a unique carnival duo in the Bolognese plain with Persiceto.