Veroli Carnival

A traditional carnival in the heart of Ciociaria

The Veroli Carnival, or Carnevale Verolano, is one of the longest-running folk festivals in the Frosinone province. For over four decades, it has brought allegorical floats, masks, and music to the streets of this historic town in the heart of the Ciociaria region. The event is organized by the Municipality of Veroli in partnership with the Pro Loco and the Rugantino Cultural Association, the historic guardians of the festival, with the active involvement of local schools and associations. In 2026, the carnival reached its 46th edition, also hosting the 35th "Armando Igliozzi" Trophy dedicated to the floats.

The grand parade of allegorical floats

The highlight is the Sunday afternoon parade: allegorical floats and costumed groups set off from the Sant'Angelo in Villa district, travel along Viale Giglio and the Bivio Torrice, and arrive triumphantly in Piazza del Giglio, which transforms into an open-air stage filled with music, colors, confetti, and applause. The floats, built by local associations and neighborhood groups, compete for prizes and recognition; registration opens in the weeks prior, and the first registered floats receive an expense reimbursement from the organizers.

Children in masks and entertainment

On the Saturday before the parade, Piazza del Giglio hosts the "Children in Masks" festival: an afternoon of games, music, and entertainment designed for the little ones, featuring groups specialized in family-friendly activities. It is the ideal prelude to the big Sunday celebration, set in a colorful and safe atmosphere that involves nurseries, schools, and families from the entire district.

Street bands, flag-wavers, and folklore

Alongside the floats, the procession is animated every year by renowned musical ensembles and performance groups: the Banda Musicale Città di Amaseno, the Flag-wavers of Cori, the percussionists of the Afrorock Drums from Rome, the Ciociaro Folkloristic Group "La Strenga", and the Pulcinella Band from Bracigliano. Stilt walkers and street artists complete an afternoon that blends fun with a sense of community, with prizes awarded to the most original and creative costumes.

Veroli, a city of art between faith and history

Attending the carnival is also the perfect opportunity to discover Veroli, one of the most interesting art cities in southern Lazio. The historic center of Hernican origin preserves the Basilica of Santa Salome with its Holy Stairs, the nearby Casamari Abbey, and the remains of cyclopean walls. The Lazio Region and the province of Frosinone safeguard a heritage of popular traditions in this area, of which the Veroli Carnival is one of the most heartfelt and well-attended expressions.

A free festival for everyone

The event is free to attend and takes place entirely outdoors along the streets of the Sant'Angelo in Villa and Giglio districts. It is an authentically popular festival where schools, families, and local associations are the protagonists—an appointment that draws hundreds of people every year between February and March, renewing a community heritage that the Rugantino Association has been passing down for decades.