Masked Villages Carnival

The Viareggio Carnival comes to Selvatelle

The Masked Villages Carnival is the main carnival celebration in the village of Selvatelle, located in the Municipality of Terricciola, in the province of Pisa, in the heart of the Tuscan Valdera. The event is born from a prestigious collaboration: the Municipality of Terricciola joins forces with the Viareggio Carnival Foundation, one of Italy's most iconic carnival institutions, to bring the artistry and tradition of the grand Versilia floats to the small towns of Valdera.

A festival that unites the villages

The heart of the day is the grand costume parade that winds through Piazza del Popolo and Via Volterrana, accompanied by the melodies of the Premiata Filarmonica Monterosso of Terricciola. The festival has a strong community focus, involving the various hamlets of the municipal territory, including Selvatelle, Terricciola, Chianni, La Rosa, Soiana, and Soianella, turning a small community in inland Tuscany into an open-air stage.

Papier-mâché, contests, and street food

Among the most popular activities are the papier-mâché workshops (the traditional casting technique) led by experts from the Viareggio Carnival Foundation: a unique opportunity for children to discover how the giant Viareggio floats are created. The day also features a costume contest for individuals and groups, with prizes for the most beautiful, the most original, and the largest group. There is no shortage of DJ sets, entertainment shows, and street food stalls along the route. In some editions, the town has been decorated with striking giant skull art installations, designed to remain as permanent features in the various villages of the Municipality.

A free event for the whole family

The Masked Villages Carnival is a free-admission event designed for families, children, young people, and seniors. It has quickly become one of the most anticipated dates on the winter calendar of Terricciola and Valdera, capable of attracting visitors from across the region and strengthening the identity of a territory that, as the municipal administration noted, "when it acts as one, it manages to create something extraordinary."