San Mauro Castelverde Carnival

The Carnival in the village of sundials

Perched at an altitude of over 1,000 meters in the heart of the Madonie Park, San Mauro Castelverde is known as the "village of sundials" for the many solar clocks decorating its facades. Every winter, this small town in the province of Palermo transforms for its Carnival, one of the most anticipated events for the local community: for a few days, the streets and squares of the historic center come alive with confetti, music, and masks.

Allegorical floats and masquerade groups

The heart of the festival is the parade of allegorical floats accompanied by masquerade groups, which bring joy and color to the town's main street. The floats, built with passion by local associations and groups, travel through the village, engaging both adults and children in a festive atmosphere of sounds, confetti, and smiles. Participation is open to everyone, and every year the municipality invites citizens to register their own masquerade groups for the parades.

The Madonie Carnival

San Mauro Castelverde is part of the wider Madonie Carnival, a shared calendar connecting the carnivals of the surrounding towns — from Pollina to Castelbuono, from Castellana Sicula to Petralia. In this spirit of exchange, local masquerade groups participate in parades in neighboring towns, particularly the renowned Historical Carnival of Castelbuono, while guest groups travel to San Mauro for local parades. It is a network of festivities that strengthens the cultural identity of the Madonie region and keeps a deeply rooted popular tradition alive.

The "du nannu carrivali" tradition

The festivities conclude with the traditional performance of "du nannu carrivali," a symbolic staging of the death of Carnival that marks the end of the festive period and the beginning of Lent. This ancient rite, common to many Sicilian villages, retains its authentic, popular flavor in San Mauro Castelverde.

A village to discover

Experiencing the San Mauro Castelverde Carnival is also an opportunity to discover a unique village in Sicily, the only municipality above 1,000 meters that also features a stretch of coastline, overlooking the nearby Gole di Tiberio of the Madonie UNESCO Geopark. Between ancient churches, stone alleys, and characteristic local products — such as "Crastu" olive oil and goat and sheep cheeses, including caciocavallo — the Carnival becomes a gateway to the culture and authenticity of the Madonie.