Traversella Carnival

The Traversella Carnival

In the heart of Valchiusella, one of the most picturesque valleys in the Canavese area, the mountain village of Traversella celebrates its folk Carnival every year. Perched at an altitude of about 827 meters within the Metropolitan City of Turin, in Piedmont, this small municipality of a few hundred inhabitants turns its streets and squares into a stage for tradition, joy, and conviviality in the days leading up to Lent.

The masks: Badul and Badula

The heart and soul of the festival are the village's traditional masks, the Badul and the Badula. The inhabitants of Traversella are known as Baduj, a nickname derived from the badul—a wooden yoke with two notches at the ends, once used to carry water buckets. From this humble tool of daily mountain life, the two characters who embody the community's spirit were born. They parade among the people during the festivities, inextricably linking the Carnival to local history and culture.

A village of mining tradition

Traversella is not just a Carnival village; it is a place with a strong historical memory. For centuries, its economy was defined by mining, with hundreds of tunnels carved into the mountains to extract iron, tungsten, and copper, until the mines finally closed in the early 1970s. This past is preserved today by the Mining Center and the ecomuseum, and the Baduj's sense of belonging to their land is palpable in folk festivals like the Carnival.

Atmosphere and program

The Traversella Carnival retains the intimate charm of small alpine carnivals: far from the spectacle of large-scale events, it focuses on authenticity, direct resident involvement, and welcoming visitors. The festivities span several days and include traditional entertainment, masks, music, and the conviviality typical of Piedmontese village festivals. Traversella also participates in the wider carnival fervor of the Valchiusella and Canavese regions, areas rich in folk festivals, traditions, and food and wine events during the Carnival season.

Why attend

• Experience an authentic mountain Carnival in a Valchiusella village.
• Discover the traditional Badul and Badula masks and the history of the Baduj.
• Learn about the mining and alpine heritage of a municipality off the beaten tourist path.
• Immerse yourself in the folk traditions of the Canavese and the Metropolitan City of Turin.