Monterosolino Carnival

A local carnival, built by volunteers

The Monterosolino Carnival is the winter event that brings the entire community of Monterosi to life—a town of just over four thousand residents in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. Here, the carnival is not an imported spectacle: the allegorical floats are born in the town's workshops, where volunteers from the Pro Loco Monterosi Association spend weeks working on papier-mâché, structures, and costumes. It is a collective craft effort involving families, young people, and enthusiasts of all ages, culminating in the public parade of the floats through the town center.

The parades and the route

The heart of the event lies in the parades of allegorical floats and masked groups, traditionally held on two Sundays during the carnival season, between February and early March. The focal point is Piazzale La Marmora, from where the floats depart in the early afternoon to traverse the town streets before returning to the square, where the festivities continue with music, confetti, and the distribution of traditional seasonal sweets. In recent editions, an average of six floats have paraded, accompanied by walking masked groups representing themes related to current events, television, and Italian customs, often with a satirical edge.

The children's carnival and costume parties

In addition to the parades, the Monterosolino Carnival program usually includes:

• an evening costume party at the Sala Polivalente, featuring live music or a DJ set;
• an afternoon children's carnival, also in the Sala Polivalente, with entertainment, games, and prizes for the most original costumes;
• refreshment moments with traditional Lazio carnival sweets, such as frappe and castagnole.

The format is designed for families: the parades are free to attend and take place outdoors, in a village setting that makes participation simple and direct, even for visitors from out of town.

Monterosi and the carnival tradition of Tuscia

Monterosi is located along the ancient Via Cassia, halfway between Rome and Viterbo, in an area of volcanic lakes and forests that marks the southern border of Tuscia. The territory has a particularly vibrant carnival tradition: within a few kilometers, one can find historic events such as the Carnival of Ronciglione, the one in Civita Castellana, and the Viterbo Carnival. In this landscape, the Monterosolino Carnival occupies a more intimate, village-like position, appreciated precisely for its family-friendly dimension and the authenticity of local participation, so much so that it is described as one of the most beloved carnivals in Tuscia.

Why it's worth visiting

Those looking for the spectacle of major national carnivals will find something different here: a carnival on a village scale, where you recognize the faces of those who built the floats and where children are the true protagonists. It is also an opportunity to discover Monterosi out of season, between the lake, the Tuscia countryside, and the nearby archaeological area of Sutri, in a day that combines popular tradition, craftsmanship, and conviviality.