Historical Piceno Carnival - The Zanni

One of Italy's oldest carnival traditions

In the heart of the Marche Apennines, within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, the Historical Piceno Carnival - The Zanni is an event rooted in the Renaissance. The tradition has been documented since 1530, when Lombard master builders, who came to the area to work travertine, brought the Zanni mask with them. It is one of the oldest carnivals in Italy; in the Marche region, it is preceded in age only by the Carnival of Fano.

The event takes place in the mountain hamlets of the Municipality of Acquasanta Terme, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, and particularly in the Garrafo Valley, which includes the small villages of Pozza, Umito, Montacuto, and Pito. Its survival, almost intact over the centuries, is also due to the isolation of these places among the Laga mountains. Since 2011, the valley communities have officially been part of the Historical Piceno Carnival along with Ascoli Piceno, Castignano, and Offida.

The Zanni Mask

The name Zanni derives from Gianni and refers to the 16th-century Lombard stonemasons; this figure influenced some of the most famous masks in Italian theater. The Zanni wears an unmistakable costume: red woolen stockings with pompoms, white trousers and shirt, a multicolored shawl, and above all a pointed hat called a coccarda, from which numerous strips of colored paper hang, reminiscent of Harlequin. Each figure wields a wooden sword called a staiola, once used for self-defense and to protect the honor of maidens during the festivities.

The House-to-House Procession

The procession is not a simple parade: it is a festive procession that winds through the villages of the valley, stopping from house to house, where residents offer dishes and specialties of the local tradition. Alongside the Zanni march fixed figures that repeat every year: the devil with a pitchfork (now accompanied by a carabiniere), accordion players, and the bride and groom couple. A particularly poignant stop is at the valley's international partisan cemetery, where participants pay homage to the fallen with moving songs and dances.

Gastronomy plays a central role throughout the day, featuring typical products from the Monti della Laga, and the festival concludes with music, DJ sets, and street food. An authentic experience for those who want to discover the real Marche, far from mass tourist carnivals.