I Carrelli di Carnevale

The Carnival of Soriano nel Cimino

At the foot of Monte Cimino, in the heart of the Viterbo Tuscia region, Soriano nel Cimino is famous for its Orsini Castle and the historic autumn Chestnut Festival. But when Carnival arrives, the village transforms: the streets of the historic center fill with color, music, and imagination with I Carrelli di Carnevale, a parade of allegorical floats that involves the entire town, from school children to adults in the local districts.

The "Carrelli": artisanal creativity on parade

The stars of the festival are the allegorical floats—the "carrelli," as they are called here—true works of artisanal creativity built during the winter months by groups of volunteers, families, and local associations. Each float develops a theme, ranging from satire and fairy tales to popular culture, and is accompanied by its own masked group that dances and animates the procession along the entire route.

The parade route

The parades start from Piazzale della Repubblica and cross the town to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the main square overlooked by the town hall. The procession moves in the early afternoon, usually at 3:00 PM, and turns the historic center into an open-air party filled with confetti, streamers, and loud music.

Prizes and float competition

The event also has a competitive spirit: a jury awards prizes to participating groups in three categories—best theme, best originality, and best performance—a recognition of the weeks of work behind every float and choreography. The rivalry is good-natured, but the groups' commitment is very serious, as reflected in the quality of their creations.

A festival for families and children

The Soriano Carnival is designed primarily for families: children in masks are the true stars of the square, local schools participate in the festivities, and the town's comprehensive school even suspends afternoon activities on Shrove Tuesday to allow everyone to join in. A food area with local products accompanies the parades, and in the hamlet of Chia, there is also a Carnival in the square with entertainment dedicated to the little ones.

Carnival in the Tuscia region

The Soriano event is part of the tradition of the Tuscia carnivals, the land of the Etruscans between Lake Vico and the Tiber Valley, where every village—from Ronciglione to Civita Castellana—celebrates the week before Lent in its own way. The Carrelli Carnival, supported by the Municipality of Soriano nel Cimino and promoted through the tourist portal Welcome to Soriano, is the ideal opportunity to discover one of the most charming villages in the province of Viterbo and the Lazio region out of season, amidst medieval alleys, the Orsini Castle, and the UNESCO-listed beech forest of Monte Cimino.