Pavona Carnival
Floats and masquerades along Via del Mare in Pavona
About Pavona Carnival
The Pavona Carnival, in the heart of the Castelli Romani
The Pavona Carnival is one of the most cherished traditions in the district of Pavona, within the municipality of Albano Laziale, in the Metropolitan City of Rome. Every winter, during the carnival season, Via del Mare dresses up for the occasion, becoming the stage for colorful parades that draw crowds from across the Castelli Romani area. It is a deeply rooted community festival, built over time by local associations and volunteers.
Allegorical floats, masks, and music
The heart of the event lies in the allegorical floats—ten in the most recent edition—hand-built by the Committee's groups and filled with papier-mâché figures, vibrant colors, and movement. Surrounding the floats are masked groups, stilt walkers, and marching bands that accompany the procession along the entire route, amidst showers of confetti and streamers. The event also features percussion groups and performances by comedic bands invited from neighboring towns.
A route that closes the street to traffic
During the festival days, Via del Mare is closed to traffic between Via Roma and Via Latina to ensure a safe parade route. The festivities also extend into the adjacent streets, with the entire Pavona area becoming pedestrian-only in the afternoon to welcome families and visitors.
The tradition of the "funeral procession"
In keeping with the best carnival traditions, the event concludes with the "Farewell to the Great Carnival", a procession that symbolically marks the end of the festivities and the return to daily life, in a playful ritual much loved by the residents of Pavona.
A festival for the whole community
Organized by the Pavona Festivities Committee with the patronage of the Municipality of Albano Laziale, the Pavona Carnival is a free event open to everyone, specifically designed for families and children. It is an opportunity to experience the most authentic side of Carnival in the Lazio region, far from the major tourist flows and close to local neighborhood life.
Pavona Carnival — edition 2026
Pavona Carnival 2026
The 2026 edition brought ten allegorical floats and three days of festivities to Pavona along Via del Mare. The program alternated between masked parades, performances by stilt walkers, marching bands, and choreography by percussion groups, with the participation of ensembles invited from neighboring Castelli Romani towns. The event concluded on Tuesday, February 17, with the "Farewell to the Great Carnival" procession.
Programme Pavona Carnival 2026
The three days
- Thursday, February 12 — Carnival opening in the afternoon: parade of allegorical floats, stilt walkers, and masked groups along Via del Mare, accompanied by marching bands.
- Sunday, February 15 — Grand afternoon parade of the ten allegorical floats, masks, and music through the streets of the neighborhood.
- Tuesday, February 17 — Final day with the closing parade and the "Farewell to the Great Carnival" procession.
During the festival days, Via del Mare was closed to traffic between Via Roma and Via Latina, with the area pedestrianized in the afternoon.
Highlights Pavona Carnival 2026
- Ten allegorical floats along Via del Mare
- Masked groups, stilt walkers, and marching bands
- Percussion group choreography
- "Farewell to the Great Carnival" procession
- Free admission
Prices Pavona Carnival 2026
Practical information — Pavona Carnival
How to get there
Pavona is a district of Albano Laziale, located in the Castelli Romani area south of Rome. By train, the Pavona FS station (Rome-Albano/Velletri line) is just a short walk from Via del Mare. By car, it can be reached via the Via Nettunense; during the festival days, traffic closures and parking bans are in effect on Via del Mare and surrounding streets, with alternative parking available in the nearby areas.
Admission
The event is free and open to the public.
Information
Municipality of Albano Laziale — [email protected]
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Pavona Carnival
Via del Mare, Pavona
Via del Mare, 00041 Albano Laziale