San Giovanni Rotondo Carnival

Carnival in the Gargano

The San Giovanni Rotondo Carnival is one of the most cherished events in the town's festive calendar, famous worldwide as the home of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. Every year, between February and March, the town's historic center, in the heart of the Gargano and the province of Foggia (Apulia), transforms into a grand open-air stage featuring masked parades, allegorical floats, costumed groups, music, and tastings of traditional sweets.

The Carluccio Mask

The identity symbol of the festival is the local 'Carluccio' mask, a popular figure tied to the collective memory of San Giovanni and recognizable by its large hat. Many Carnival initiatives revolve around this character: artisanal exhibitions, including crochet works set up in Piazza De Mattias, and moments that weave together folklore, tradition, and community participation.

Parades, Music, and the Bright Night

The highlight days see the main streets and squares—Piazza dei Martiri, Piazza Padre Pio, Corso Umberto I, and Via Kennedy—animated by parades of schools and masked groups from the Gargano, DJ sets, and street performances. A particularly anticipated moment is the 'Bright Night', an evening of widespread celebration that accompanies the traditional 'Death of the Carnival' procession, a ritual that symbolically closes the carnival period.

The Zeppola Festival

Alongside the parades, the festival stands out for its gastronomic soul with the Zeppola Festival: local pastry shops offer free tastings and present the 'Zeppolone' of Saint Joseph, while traditional sweets like chiacchiere and cartellate are prepared in workshops. Popular culture also takes center stage at the 'Michele Capuano' Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, which hosts workshops, masquerade parties, and re-enactments dedicated to local customs during the Carnival days.

A Community Celebration

Organized by the Municipality of San Giovanni Rotondo together with the Pro Loco and the Tre Torri Association, the Sangiovannese Carnival unites young and old in a free, widespread event that celebrates the popular traditions of the Gargano and attracts visitors from across the province of Foggia and the entire Apulia region.