The story
Acireale Carnival in Acireale
Acireale's Sicilian carnival runs two float traditions side by side: oversized, satirical papier-mache figures introduced in 1880, and flower-and-citrus-covered carri infiorati that began appearing in 1930. Set against the town's Sicilian Baroque streets, the parades alternate between grotesque caricature and elaborate floral decoration across the carnival's schedule.
Acireale's earliest documented carnival records date to 1594, though a major earthquake late in that century interrupted celebrations for years before the town rebuilt and resumed the tradition in the early 1700s.