In Romagna da oltre un secolo c’è un Carnevale “serio” di primavera. La storia dei carri di gesso e di pensiero
A small town in Romagna, Casola Valsenio, has been hosting a unique spring festival for 125 years, featuring massive allegorical floats made of plaster and wood. Unlike traditional carnivals, this event—called the "serious carnival"—takes place in late April/early May and focuses on social and political themes. The floats, up to seven meters long and nine meters high, are built by local youth and paraded twice (day and night) with performers frozen in tableau vivant poses. A jury, this year chaired by Roberto Cantagalli, director of the MAR museum in Ravenna, awards a winner.
This tradition matters because it represents a rare, enduring form of community-based public art that blends folk culture with critical commentary on contemporary issues like climate change, consumerism, and hyperconnectivity. The festival's survival for over a century, despite interruptions from wars and the pandemic, underscores the deep cultural identity and participatory spirit of the region. It also offers a model for how art can engage broad audiences through accessible, allegorical storytelling, reminiscent of medieval fresco cycles.