Leonessa Carnival

A village carnival at the foot of Mount Terminillo

Leonessa, in the province of Rieti, is one of the most charming villages in Lazio. Nestled at an altitude of about 1,000 meters in a wide Apennine basin, it retains its medieval appearance with the massive porticoes of the main square, the Farnese fountain commissioned by Margaret of Austria, and 16th and 17th-century noble palaces that testify to the Renaissance economic boom. It is in this setting that, every year between February and March, the Leonessa Carnival takes place, one of the most anticipated events for the local community.

The floats and the parade

The heart of the event is the allegorical float parade, built in the preceding months by local groups, associations, and families. The gathering is set at the Ex Bosi area, on the outskirts of the town, from where the procession sets off in the early afternoon. From there, the floats travel through the village streets, featuring surprising scenery, improbable characters, and satirical gags that draw laughter and applause, until they reach Piazza VII Aprile 1944, Leonessa's porticoed living room.

In the square, the party comes to life: music, animation, and entertainment for young and old accompany the wait for the most anticipated moment, when a jury evaluates the floats and proclaims the winner of the Leonessa Carnival. It is a playful verdict, yet one taken with pride by the competing groups, who raise the bar of creativity every year.

Masks, children, and community

The Leonessa Carnival is not limited to the parade. The program spans several days and includes afternoons dedicated to children in costume, with games, confetti, and traditional seasonal sweets, as well as events in the town's indoor venues—the San Pietro Theater and the Fra Alessandro Zanghieri Parish Theater—which are essential in a mountain village where February can be cold and snowy.

• Allegorical float parade from the Ex Bosi area to Piazza VII Aprile 1944
• Award ceremony for the winning float by the jury
• Animation and games for children in the square
• Buffet dinner at the Parish Theater following the parade
• Evening masquerade party with music and dancing

A renewed tradition

After years in which the Leonessa Carnival focused on the classic calendar days—from Fat Saturday to Shrove Tuesday—the event was recently relaunched by the Pro Loco Leonessa, together with the Municipality, with the goal of bringing the locally built floats back to the streets and involving the younger generations. The result is a festival that combines the popular appeal of the parade with a typically mountain-style convivial dimension, where the shared meal and evening dance count just as much as the procession.

What to see in Leonessa beyond the Carnival

Those who come to Leonessa for the Carnival will find a village worth visiting even outside of the festivities. The historic center is marked by churches of great value, such as San Pietro with its Gothic portal and Santa Maria del Popolo, and the Sanctuary of San Giuseppe da Leonessa, linked to the Capuchin saint born here in the 16th century. The municipal territory extends towards Mount Terminillo and the Corno Valley, with hiking trails and ski slopes reachable in just a few kilometers. Local gastronomy revolves around the famous Leonessa potato, the star of a popular autumn festival, mountain cheeses, and cured meats from the Reatine Apennines: another reason to combine your Carnival day with a stop at the table.