Torrese Carnival

A tradition spanning over fifty years

The Torrese Carnival is the historic carnival event of Torregrotta, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Messina overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily. With over half a century of history, the Torrese Carnival is one of the most deeply rooted festivals in the region, attracting families, young people, and visitors from the nearby towns of the Niceto Valley and the Tyrrhenian Riviera of Messina every year.

Allegorical floats take center stage

The heart of the festival lies in the papier-mâché allegorical floats, built in the preceding months by local groups and master float makers. Each float is a large moving stage, rich in irony, satire, and attention to detail, accompanied by costumed groups. The parade winds through the town center and crosses Piazza Unità d'Italia, punctuated by music, confetti, and great enthusiasm, with marching bands, majorettes, and flag-wavers enlivening the procession.

The competition and awards

The floats compete in the parade on various days of the event. On Shrove Tuesday, at the end of the parades, the drawing and awarding of the floats take place—a highlight that determines the most appreciated works and rewards the efforts of the participating groups.

Organization and the territory

The event is made possible by the work of local associations Me La Vedo Io and Meryvan, which aim to promote the area and offer an inclusive and participatory Carnival. The festival often involves neighboring municipalities in the province of Messina, with twin parades and collaborations that strengthen the community dimension of the tradition.

Atmosphere and audience

For a few days, Torregrotta transforms into a large open-air festival space: children, adults, and organized groups wear original and colorful costumes, the streets fill with confetti, and music accompanies the passage of the floats from the afternoon until evening. Today, the Torrese Carnival is an unmissable event of the Sicilian Carnival in the Municipality of Torregrotta and the wider Tyrrhenian area of the province of Messina.