Three Districts Carnival of Borgofranco d'Ivrea

Three districts, three Carnivals, one town

In Borgofranco d'Ivrea, a small town in the Canavese area of the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Carnival has a unique feature that makes it one of a kind in Piedmont: it is not celebrated as a single event, but is doubled, or rather tripled. The three historic districts of the town — Borgo, Olmetto, and Cascine — each organize their own Carnival with separate parades, processions, and banquets, fueling a rivalry as spirited as it is good-natured, which the town has proudly upheld for generations.

A centuries-old tradition

The roots of this festival run deep: local tradition traces the Borgofranco Carnival back as far as 1272. The three carnival halls that still host the districts' banquets and dances were built in the early 20th century, a testament to how integral the festival is to the town's identity. Each district recreates a small festive military hierarchy, complete with its own General, Mugnaia (a prestigious female figure echoing the famous tradition of the nearby Ivrea Carnival), vivandières, secretaries, and officers.

Processions, horses, and allegorical floats

The most anticipated moment is the grand Sunday parade: historic equestrian processions and allegorical floats travel through the town streets, accompanied by the three district marching bands, each playing its own tunes. In the following days, the processions continue on foot to the rhythm of fifes and drums, while each district showcases its own creations, such as the "Four Seasons" float from Olmetto. It is a celebration of healthy competition and pure joy, where the entire community gathers in the streets and halls.

Traditional cuisine

The Three Districts Carnival is also a major gastronomic event. Each district opens its own banquet hall with traditional Piedmontese menus: mixed boiled meats, regional appetizers, Piedmontese fried mixed platter, fagioli grassi (fat beans), polenta, and cod. Lunches and dinners alternate with dance evenings, featuring live music and DJ sets in a convivial atmosphere that lasts until late at night.

An authentic Canavese Carnival

Just a few kilometers from Ivrea and its famous Battle of the Oranges, Borgofranco offers a more intimate and popular Carnival, far from the large tourist crowds but deeply felt. For those looking to discover the most genuine soul of the carnival traditions of the Canavese and Piedmont, the Three Districts of Borgofranco are an unmissable stop.