Satriano di Lucania Carnival
The Walking Forest and the archaic masks of the Rumita, the Bear, and Lent
About Satriano Carnival
When the Forest Walks
There is a Carnival, in Basilicata, that has nothing boisterous or carnival-like in the common sense. It is the Carnival of Satriano di Lucania, a village in the Apennines in the province of Potenza, where ancient masks re-emerge, with an archaic and almost shamanic flavor, deeply linked to the relationship between man and nature. Here, Carnival is a rite of passage, an anthropological representation rooted in the peasant culture of Lucania.
The Rumita and the Masks of the Apennines
The symbolic figure is the Rumita (the hermit): a man entirely covered in ivy, who walks slowly, transforming into a tree, a living forest. Alongside him are the other traditional masks: the Bear, symbol of the wild force of nature; Lent, an austere female figure dressed in black; and the Zita, protagonist of a reversed wedding where men play women and women play men, in a game of role reversal typical of carnival tradition.
The Walking Forest
The most evocative moment is The Walking Forest: 131 Rumita, one for each municipality in Basilicata, parade together through the town and the woods, creating a vegetal procession that is simultaneously a spectacle, an ecological statement, and an identity memory. A moving human forest that sends a powerful message about the bond between the Lucanian communities and nature.
Recognized Heritage
The Carnival of Satriano has been recognized as a Historical Carnival by the Ministry of Culture and is organized by the Associazione Al Parco, with the contribution of the Municipality of Satriano di Lucania and APT Basilicata. In the days preceding the event, workshops are held to create the masks, involving the entire community. For lovers of popular traditions and anthropology, it is one of the most authentic and unmissable events of the Lucanian winter.
Satriano Carnival — edition 2026
The 14th edition of the Carnival of Satriano di Lucania takes place on February 14 and 15, 2026, recognized as a Historical Carnival by the Ministry of Culture. Two days dedicated to the archaic masks of the Lucanian Apennines — the Rumita, the Bear, Lent, and the Zita — and the rite of The Walking Forest.
The organization is by Associazione Al Parco, with the contribution of the Municipality of Satriano di Lucania and APT Basilicata. In the preceding days, workshops for mask making are held.
Programme Satriano Carnival 2026
Saturday, February 14 — The Zita
- 11:29 AM — Gathering of participants at the Town Hall
- 12:03 PM — Start of the Zita procession (wedding with role reversal: men play women and vice versa)
- 12:33 PM — Celebration at the Porticelle Open-Air Theater
- 1:12 PM — Zita's Lunch in the marquee at Piazza Umberto I
- 3:33 PM — Parade with Bears, Lent figures, eco-friendly carts, and the Zita procession
- 6:37 PM — End of the procession
- Evening — Music with Contrappunto, dj Jakare, and Trio Lucano
Sunday, February 15 — The Walking Forest
- Morning — Spontaneous Rumita roam the town streets
- 10:30 AM — Meeting "Forests Will Save the World"
- 11:52 AM — Gathering and awards for spontaneous Rumita
- 1:01 PM — Open mic and musical moments
- 3:31 PM — Start of The Walking Forest from Bosco Spera, with 131 Rumita (one for each municipality in Basilicata)
- 6:28 PM — Arrival at Piazza Garibaldi
- 6:44 PM — Concert by Ritmo Binario, live performance by Jakare, and exhibition by Antonio Saporito
Highlights Satriano Carnival 2026
Prices Satriano Carnival 2026
Practical information — Satriano Carnival
How to get there: Satriano di Lucania (PZ) is located in the Lucanian Apennines, reachable from the Potenza-Sicignano junction. Events take place in the historic center, Piazza Umberto I, Piazza Garibaldi, and Bosco Spera.
Tickets: free participation in street events.
Info: Associazione Al Parco (+39 329 800 4339).
Accommodation: accommodation facilities in Satriano di Lucania and in the nearby municipalities of the Lucanian Apennines.
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