'U Carnevàle de 'na Vòte

The Carnival of yesteryear in the heart of Taranto

'U Carnevàle de 'na Vòte is the event that brings the traditional Taranto Carnival back to life in the evocative setting of the Old Town, the ancient district overlooking the Mar Piccolo and Mar Grande. Organized by the cultural association Tarantinídion APS together with the Pro Loco of Taranto APS and numerous local entities, the festival recovers the rituals, sounds, and sharp irony of Ionian folk culture, restoring to the community a heritage of gestures, masks, and dialect words that were at risk of being lost.

Traditional Taranto masks

The procession is brought to life by the typical characters of the city's Carnival, allegorical figures that have told the vices and virtues of the Taranto people for centuries:

• Mèste Giorge, a parody of the local nobleman with a scepter symbolizing power over the people;
• Quaremme 'a zinzilose, a man dressed as a woman embodying the desperate widow of the Carnival;
• Lo Scaliero, an elegant young man who distributes flowers to his admirers;
• 'U Pescatore, played by men dressed in white with a red sash, black velvet jacket, and a fisherman's cap;
• Donna Pernìce and the ancient masks of the Mascherata and the Pitricine.

The procession and the route

The Shrove Tuesday masked parade winds through the narrow streets of the Old Town, passing through Piazza Duomo, Vico Innocentini, Via Pentite, Via Cava, Via Duomo, and other alleys of the Marina, accompanied by folk music and the clatter of pots, lids, tambourines, and cowbells. Masks, costumes, and—above all—noise are the essential ingredients of the festival, and the public is invited to participate actively by bringing traditional farming and maritime instruments.

'A Muérte 'u Tàte, the Carnival funeral

The highlight is the ancient and allegorical funeral of the Carnival, 'A Muérte 'u Tàte, which closes the day at Piazza Monteoliveto with the burning of the effigy. It is the final ritual marking the transition from celebration to Lent, blending satire, theatricality, and collective emotion, following a custom once celebrated at the stroke of midnight when bells announced the beginning of the penitential period.

An identity-driven festival

More than just a parade, 'U Carnevàle de 'na Vòte is a community ritual that keeps the language, folk culture, and collective identity of Taranto alive. The event is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Taranto, in Puglia, and involves historic center associations committed to the revitalization of the Old Town.