Roviano Carnival

The longest-running Carnival in the Aniene Valley

The Roviano Carnival is the oldest masquerade festival in the Aniene Valley. For over forty years, it has filled the streets of the village, located in the Lucretili Mountains in the province of Rome, Lazio, with color, confetti, and music. Organized with passion by the Pro Loco of Roviano under the patronage of the Municipality of Roviano, the event draws families, costumed groups, and visitors from neighboring towns every February, turning the historic center into a grand open-air theater.

A peasant tradition turned village festival

The origins of the Roviano carnival are deeply rooted in the peasant culture of the middle Aniene Valley. Popular memory recalls the «Carnavalata», a ritual where farmers, while working in the fields, would playfully capture their master and lead him into town in a procession, often accompanied by musicians. The ransom was paid by the master's wife with a hearty dinner of pizzefritte, castagnole, mostaccioli, sausages, beans, and wine, followed by dancing and singing until late at night. It was a time of social inversion, a pressure valve where, for a few days, servants became masters. The genuine and participatory atmosphere that still characterizes the event today stems from those ancient roots.

Floats, masks, and the local band

The heart of the festival is the parade of allegorical floats and costumed groups, which wind through the streets and squares of the village—from Largo Monsignor Sargenti to Piazza della Libertà—accompanied by the notes of the Complesso Bandistico Il Ponte sull'Aniene. Young and old parade together in an atmosphere of shared joy, amidst elaborate costumes, choreography, and the creativity of those who build the floats each year. Popular participation is the true hallmark of this carnival: a moment of connection and identity for the entire community.

Shrove Tuesday awards

The highlight arrives on Shrove Tuesday, when the festival concludes with the awards ceremony. A jury presents two historic honors: the Barbantonio Prize for the best mask and the Tonino Cannone Prize for the best costumed group, recognizing the imagination, attention to detail, and team spirit of the participants.

Roviano and the Lucretili Mountains

Roviano is a small village in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, overlooking the upper Aniene Valley and dominated by its castle. Its location, a short distance from Tivoli and Subiaco, makes it an ideal destination to combine the festival with a stroll through the historic center and a discovery of the Lucretili Mountains landscape. The Roviano Carnival is the perfect opportunity to experience an authentic tradition of Lazio, far from the major tourist flows and still deeply linked to its community.