Sammarzanese Carnival

The Sammarzanese Carnival

The Sammarzanese Carnival is a popular festival that brings the streets of San Marzano di San Giuseppe, a town in the province of Taranto in the heart of Puglia, to life every year. For a few days between February and March, the town center transforms into an open-air stage featuring impressive allegorical floats, costumed groups, choreography, music, and plenty of fun for all ages.

A tradition born in 2009

The first edition of the Carnival dates back to 2009, when the festival was organized by the local AVIS branch. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the event returned with renewed enthusiasm and is now promoted by the Associazione Carnevale Sammarzanese APS, in collaboration with the municipal administration. Year after year, the event has grown to become one of the most cherished carnival traditions in the Taranto hinterland.

Allegorical floats and parades

The heart of the festival lies in the allegorical floats—true mobile works of art resulting from months of hard work by volunteers who handle the design, papier-mâché, and assembly. The floats, along with costumed groups evaluated by a special committee, parade along Piazza Michelangelo and Via Don Carlo, turning the town into an explosion of color. The parades take place on Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday, the day that concludes the festivities with a grand final event in the square.

Katundo and the Arbëreshë identity

A historic symbol of the event is the mascot Katundo – I am San Marzano, which represents the memory and identity of the territory. The name recalls the Arbëreshë word katund (village): San Marzano di San Giuseppe is, in fact, the only town in the province of Taranto that still preserves the ancient Arbëreshë language, a legacy of the Albanian refugees who settled in Southern Italy between the 15th and 18th centuries. The Carnival thus becomes an opportunity to celebrate the roots of this community.

Taste and participation

Alongside the parades, there are plenty of social moments, including tastings of local products such as savory babà and cuoppo (fried street food), as well as a symbolic lottery that accompanies the closing of the festival. Free admission and a family-friendly atmosphere make the Sammarzanese Carnival an inclusive event, designed for the entire community and the many visitors who reach San Marzano from neighboring towns.