Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia Carnival

A genuine carnival in the heart of Tuscia

The Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia Carnival, also known as the Sangiovannese Carnival, is the most colorful event of the year in one of the smallest municipalities in Lazio: just over a thousand inhabitants nestled between two hills in the Viterbo Tuscia area, about twenty kilometers from Viterbo. Every year during the Carnival season, the village fills with masks, confetti, and music for an authentically popular celebration, promoted by the Municipality of Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia with the support of local associations and volunteers.

The allegorical float parade

The most anticipated moment is the parade of allegorical floats and masked groups, which traditionally starts in the early afternoon from Piazza Savoia and travels through the town center. The floats, built during the winter months by volunteers from the village and neighboring towns, parade past crowds of spectators accompanied by masks, music, and percussion: in the 2025 edition, the parade was enlivened by the overwhelming samba battery of the S-banda-ti. The atmosphere is that of the village carnivals of the past: no barriers, plenty of participation, and fun designed especially for families and children.

Costume parties and balls at the municipal gym

The Sangiovannese Carnival does not end with the parade. The municipal gym on Via Dante Alighieri is transformed for the occasion into a real ballroom: here, the costume party dedicated to children is held, featuring games, karaoke, and group dances, followed by the Grand Carnival Ball, the evening masquerade that keeps the whole village dancing until late at night. It is the convivial heart of the festival, where different generations come together to dance.

The bond with the Vetralla Carnival

In recent years, the Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia Carnival has linked up with the larger Vetralla Carnival: in 2025, the two events created a shared program lasting over two weeks, from February 16 to March 4, with parades, children's parties, and balls distributed between Vetralla and Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia. This collaboration has strengthened both festivals and perfectly illustrates the community spirit of this corner of the Viterbo province.

A village between Etruscan necropolises and Roman mosaics

Attending the carnival is also a great opportunity to discover Villa San Giovanni in Tuscia, a village founded around 1300 and surrounded by a territory of extraordinary archaeological interest: just a few kilometers away are the rock-cut necropolises of Grotta Porcina, Valle Cappellana, Blera, and Barbarano Romano, while the municipal territory preserves the remains of a large 3rd-century AD Roman villa with mosaics and masonry. The village, crossed by the 'Cammino dei Tre Villaggi' (Three Villages Trail), is also known for the curious artistic tiles that decorate its alleys and facades. The Carnival thus becomes an invitation to experience the most authentic Lazio region, far from the major tourist circuits.