Licodiese Carnival – Carnival Under the Tower (Melo Floresta Memorial)

The Santa Maria di Licodia Carnival

The Licodiese Carnival, now officially titled "Carnival Under the Tower – Melo Floresta Memorial," is the premier carnival event in Santa Maria di Licodia, a medieval village perched on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna in the province of Catania, in the heart of Sicily. Organized by the Municipality of Santa Maria di Licodia, the festival brings the historic center to life with parades of elaborate papier-mâché floats, masked groups, vibrant music, and dancing, creating an atmosphere of pure joy for all ages.

Floats and Masked Groups

The heart of the festival is the float parade: artisanal masterpieces crafted from papier-mâché, the result of months of hard work by local volunteers and master craftsmen, which wind through the town streets accompanied by music and choreography. Alongside the floats, masked groups parade in themed costumes with meticulously prepared routines. Municipal regulations define the various competition categories, from floats to masked groups, and manage the registration for those wishing to join the procession.

In the Shadow of the Norman Tower

The name "Under the Tower" refers to the village's most iconic landmark: the crenellated Arab-Norman tower. Built on Arab foundations, it was once part of a Benedictine monastery founded in the 12th century, from which the town itself takes its name. The tower, which once used light signals to connect the castles of Adrano and Paternò, now serves as a scenic backdrop for the festivities, anchoring the Carnival in the town's rich historical identity.

A Revived Tradition

As early as the 1990s, Santa Maria di Licodia was one of the few towns in the area to boast a Carnival with floats and masked groups, attracting visitors from neighboring villages. After a hiatus, the event was brought back to life in recent years as the Melo Floresta Memorial, dedicated to a beloved local figure, and has since become a highly anticipated date on the winter calendar. It should not be confused with the separate Summer Carnival "Licodia in Festa," which takes place at a different time of year.

An Event for the Whole Community

Designed to promote local art, tourism, and folk culture, the Licodiese Carnival is a free, open-air festival that transforms the center of Santa Maria di Licodia into a stage of color, masks, and music, representing one of the most vibrant expressions of Etnean folklore.