The Roman Carnival

The Roman Carnival is one the year’s most loved and longed for traditional celebrations. It is a street festival that lasts 8 days and has celebrations of every kind starting with those in Piazza Navona. Then there are those at Monte Testaccio and its renounced ruzzica de li porci (a race with pigs and carts down the hill) and not forgetting the show at Via del Corso, which has special events on Shrove Tuesday and Easter Sunday.

The carnival in Rome has always attracted many from out of the city, who came to get a good meal or to see the fame of Venice’s most ancient rival. The successful annual appointment particularity appealed to the young, who during these days were allowed to play jokes, drink and let loss without the fear of punishment. It was exactly the disobedient character of proceedings that caused it to be cancelled in times of plague, major losses of life and the jubilee years.
Today’s celebrations do not have the same importance as in times past but the carnival is still celebrated in some theatres and districts of the city with costumes and processions for children.
Here are some events which you can take part in to enjoy the 2009 CARNIVAL:
Shove Tuesday 19 February 2009 – Procession of floats - 10:00 - 1:00 PM on Via Cola di Rienzo.
Shove Tuesday 19 February 2009 – Procession of floats - 3:00 - 6:00PM at the Park on via Plava.
Sunday 21 February 2009 – Costumed Procession – 11:00 – 6:00 PM - Viale degli Ammiragli. Please check posters for details of the entire programme.
Curiosity: in 2009 the carnival will start on 12 January and end on 24 February.