HISTORY OF THE CASTROVILLARI CARNIVAL
The origins of the Castrovillari Carnival date back to 1635 when the theatrical farce in Calabrian dialect, “Organtino” by Cesare Quintana, was performed in front of the town’s university building on the occasion of the carnival rites. The first event planned by the Pro Loco, an organizing body with the collaboration of the local municipal administration, is dated 1959, when, thanks to the intuition of Prof. Vittorio Vigiano, founder of the association, the first edition of the Pollino Carnival and International Folklore Festival was organized. Over the years, the Pro Loco has developed, expanded and improved the event, giving back to the people the role of the true protagonist who from a “passive spectator” has returned to being the “main actor,” as the history and tradition of the Calabrian town teach us.
The intuition was to combine masks and folklore, a winning combination determined by the enormous popular participation that still characterizes it today.
This is due to the artistic director of the Pro Loco, Gerardo Bonifati, newly appointed National President of the F.I.T.P. (Italian Federation of Popular Traditions, to the President, Eugenio Iannelli, to the BoD of the Pro Loco, to the many volunteers, to the School Headmasters and therefore of the schools that in this period become real laboratories where the cloths take shape and then leave free rein during the parades, to the many citizens who participate in the contest of masked groups and floats that, work all year round to offer a colourful, engaging and cheerful show.
A show that is masterfully integrated with that of folklore and that has seen the participation in the event of groups from all over Italy and the world
AWARDS
Recognized as the Carnival of Calabria, thanks to the grandeur of the event and its uninterrupted 66 editions, (we are about to experience the 67th edition), it is rightly considered one of the most interesting traditional Italian carnival events. In fact, in the year 2017, it was included by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism in the list of Italian historicized carnivals; like Viareggio, Venice, Putignano, Sciacca, Cento etc., by the Touring Club among the ten most beautiful carnivals in Italy, finding great success even beyond national borders and last in order of time, the prestigious recognition of historicized event and high regional and cultural interest.
Great achievements that reward not only the Pro Loco del Pollino but the entire City as more than 60 of Carnival represent for every Castrovillarese a wealth of experiences and intense emotions that encapsulate a part of personal history and that of the entire City located at the foot of the Pollino.
THE EVENTS.
An imposing organizational machine is behind each edition, a work that begins as soon as the previous one ends to offer, to the many tourists and campers who choose this event, (and last year in the three days of the parades reached 100 thousand); a sparkling, colourful, goliardic, festive and above all carefree Carnival managing to field a cultural, tourist and entertainment offer up to the standards of our city and Calabria.
More than 100 events on the bill that will range over the 11 days from the parades, with a 3 km serpentine and more than 3,000 masked figures, the competition that since 1989 puts in “competition” the imagination of the masked groups officially registered to the scheduled parades that are then evaluated by a special jury; to culture, from dance to folklore, traditional serenades, sports but above all, the involvement of the people of the carnival that, from spectators, will become the main actor of the event.
International Folklore Festival where folklore groups from all over the world participate in the competition, with some Albanian-speaking groups also present.
Generally, each group performs in the main square, the town theatre and the tent theatre set up in the municipality. On the penultimate day of Carnival, the Grand Gala of Folklore takes place in the theatre of the Franciscan Protoconvent: all groups perform for the last time and at the end of the evening the award, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the industry, is given. Personalities of national stature always present the show.
A great novelty, the “Godmother of Carnival” has been combined with the national competition of “MISS ITALY” Calabria, another important piece that is set in the event that determines, in addition, a full-bodied and virtuous economic induced. Eleven days will bring tourists to the city thus having, a relevant growth of the productive fabric of the entire territory for businesses that will record a full house with local, which will delight the palates with typical specialities of the carnival tradition.
Tradition fully experienced during the coronation of “King Carnival” that opens in fact, the door of joy and masquerade that will last until Shrove Tuesday, when the “Sovereign” will be burned at the stake and Lent will take its place. Ed ancora le “serenate tradizionali” ovvero la “Sirinata d’a Savuzizza”, uno degli appuntamenti più attesi e caratteristici del Carnevale di Castrovillari, che si tiene il giovedì grasso e riprende l’antico rituale carnascialesco castrovillarese delle “Mascherate”.
The Castrovillari Carnival is culture with “Premio Carnevale” established by the Pro Loco’s scientific council and created by the well-known goldsmith, Michele Affidato, which is awarded each year to Calabrian personalities working in the world of culture, politics, art and economics, who with their work honour and bring to the forefront of the national and international news, their land of origin.
The Castrovillari Carnival is organized by the Pro Loco in collaboration with the local Municipal Administration, the Region of Calabria, the Pollino National Park, BCC Mediocrati, Gas Pollino, the Province of Cosenza, MIBACT, F.I.T.P., IOV, EPLI, the Consumer Defense Committee, I.G.F. supported by numerous private sponsors, embellished by the brands Miss Italy, Italian Republic, and Castrovillari City Festival.
