"Brief History of the Carnival ........... The idea of organising a parade of floats to celebrate Carnival outdoors, all together along the streets, developed from some youths of the well-to-do society in February 1873 in the Café del Casino. Later this original event, which took place on the Sunday and Shrove Tuesday of February 1873, ripened in the Carnival of Viareggio, as it is known today; one of the most beautiful and magnificent spectacular events of the world. The processions were introduced towards the end of the century and were immediately warmly welcomed by the people. The triumphal floats, which were actually real monuments built in wood, scagliola and jute, were modelled by sculptor and put together by the same carpenters and blacksmiths who worked in the shipyards of the town and built ships able to successfully withstand the insidious waters and unpredictable winds of the oceans. From then on, these floats, which are built very much the same way, have sailed among throngs of astonished and amused people.

The First World War almost destroyed the tradition of the Carnival in Viareggio like the belle époque itself. The Carnival, however, flourished again with more splendour and grandiosity in 1921, when the masked floats paraded along the two splendid avenues, which run parallel along the beach. The avenues along the seashore, known as the mall, which gathered nationally and internationally famous people in the summer, became from then on - also thanks to the beautiful setting of the Apuan Alps in the background - the natural, stunning and incomparably beautiful stage where the Carnival floats have paraded year after year with renewed liveliness and mirth.

1921 was also the year in which the first official song -"La Coppa di Champagne" (The Champaign glass) - was inaugurated. Today this is still is the hymn of the Carnival. For the first time even the masks danced to the music and the band sat on a cart called "Tonin di Burio" that represented a wedding being celebrated in the barnyard of a country house. Two years later "Pierrot", the most nostalgic and romantic of all carnival masks, was the first figure to move its head and eyes. Thanks to the initiative of some manufacturers, papier-mâché was introduced in 1925. This material, which was immediately used for the floats, enabled to create huge yet extremely light constructions, which hovered on the floats challenging the law of gravity. This innovation helped to transform the Carnival of Viareggio into a legend. Because of their creative abilities, manufacturers were soon named the papier-mâché wizards by both the national and international press.

In 1930, the painter Uberto Bonetti who illustrated the Carnival on the official programs, created Burlamacco - now a famous mask - that is portrayed on the 1931 program together with Ondina, standing against the piers. Today Burlamacco is displayed among the Italian masks at the Museo del Folklore e della Tradizione (Museum of Folklore and Popular Traditions) in Rome and is exhibited at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris. After the Second World War, the Carnival of Viareggio recovered its full splendour in 1946. From this date onwards, King Carnival has sat on his throne undisturbed, unharmed by the terrible fire that destroyed the hangars where the floats were built in June 1960.

From the very outset (1954), the national broadcasting company first, and Eurovision (1958) later, have celebrated the Popularity of this event showing Viareggio and its Carnival throughout the world. Every year a long list of famous guests - from politicians, artists and athletes - come to Viareggio to admire their own papier-mâché reproduction. Every year thousands of visitors contribute to the success of this famous event by participating to the editions of the Carnival. In 1998 the Carnival of Viareggio has celebrated its 125` anniversary with over a month of day- and night-time celebrations. Strong with its continuous and growing success, the Carnival is now concentrating all its efforts towards the year 2000 edition, which will owe its spectacularity to the floats, parades, local celebrations, masked balls and other events, including also the world youth football tournament, "Coppa Carnevale", which celebrated its 50` edition in 1998. The new Carnival Town will also be inaugurated in year 2000. This area, designed to become a very popular attraction, will be equipped with hangars, an arena for shows, a multimedia museum, a papier-mâché making school and offer a great variety of cultural and leisure initiatives. Every year Viareggio plays host to thousands of visitors. Why wait? Join in too.

Viareggio may only be a small town situated in Tuscany, near Pisa and Florence, but Viareggio is well-known the world over as a famous seaside resort.

Near Viareggio is Torre del Lago Puccini, where Giacomo Puccini lived and wrote his famous "Operas", Tosca, Bohème, Butterfly, Turandot. You can visit in Torre del Lago Puccini the family house of the great composer and the museum about him. Viareggio is famous in the world for the construction of boats and yachts, too. But much more, this nice town is famous for its wonderful Carnival."