23 January 2005 (Various dates - see below)
The Viareggio Carnival is the most spectacular in Italy, and is famous worldwide for its incredible puppets.

The people of Viareggio begin preparing the huge papier-maché puppets in hangar-like buildings by the sea. The figures satirise public and political figures; making them and setting them atop the floats requires considerable technical skill as well as creativity and imagination.

On set days throughout the carnival period, huge floats parade around the town competing for the finest float award, each one carrying about 200 people in costume, as well as the huge moving, Trojan horse-like puppets, with ten people inside to manoeuvre the weights, counter-weights and levers that prevent them from toppling over. Each parade finishes with gastronomic events and a massive municipal fireworks display.

The period of Carnival is a licence to play practical jokes, which include throwing confetti and brandishing soft rubber truncheons and foam weapons. The season's typical sweets are crispy frittelle and chiacchiere.