Kings and queens, fashion shows and colorful carnival traditions in the tourist district of the lakes
Born as an ancient ritual celebration in which the community interrupted daily activities, overturning social roles and rules, the carnival has still retains its liberating spirit today, playing at the rhythm of colorful fashion shows, masks and typical dishes. For this popular festival, there are many villages and countries of the tourist district of the lakes, rich in history and traditions, which over time have developed events with a strong local identity.
Carnival Domese 2023, parade and delivery of the city, Togn and CIA
Carnival of Domodossola (from February 22 to March 4, 2025)
The Domodossola Carnival It is one of the oldest in Italy and has been organized for over 150 years since Pulent and Sciriuii Committeepartnership born in 1870 with a board, ordinary members, supporters, honorary and volunteers. THE celebrations last ten days Starting from the Saturday before Carnival, when the mayor delivers the keys of the Domese city to the Togn and CIA, a traditional couple of lovers protagonists of a local legend who recalls Manzoni’s “Promessi Sposi”.
The story tells of two young lovers, the humble Antonio Della Motta (called Togna) And Lucia da Briona (the CIA)of a wealthy and very influential family, who married great pomp in the presence of the Spanish governor and his wife, awarded the title of Conte and Countess of Mattarella, and their court. But the arrogant Pompey of Tappia, a local gentleman who swept on farmers and land, was inflated with the girl and decided to make her his own with good or bad. Having become aware of the news, on February 19, 1671 Togna challenged Pompeo in public square, managing to defeat him and his followers with the help of the community and the chefs armed with trusurthe sticks to mix the polenta.
Over the centuries, the re -enactment of the marriage and the clash has become the fulcrum of the city carnival, which every year involves the population in fashion shows, banquets and celebrations. Even today, in fact, the Carnival Committee maintains alive this tradition, an expression of the culture and identity of Domodossola, for example by accompanying the Togn and the CIA to traditional clothes to meet and tell its history in the schools of the city and around for The Ossola valleys and in nearby Switzerland.
The highlight of the celebrations takes place on Carnival Sunday, with the Preparation of the typical dish “Pulenta and Sciriuii” (Polenta and Salamini), rigorously cooked by the Pulentat in Coams in Copper in Piazza Mercato. The first taste always belongs to the Countess of Mattarella and, only after her approval on the goodness of the cooked product, the doves of cleaning and Sciriuii can be distributed on the historic decorated stage. The party continues in the afternoon in the streets of the center with the large parade of wagons, folk groups, Swiss bands, flag -wavers and masks, and which ends with the Traditional wedding in Piazza Mercato del Togna and the CIA. To accompany them to the wedding are the members of the Carnival Committee, all covered with sumptuous seventeenth -century costumes to impersonate the nourished “Corte di Mattarella”, complete with Conte, Countess, Mayor, Armigeri, Notary, Doctor, in addition to the puletat and together with all The festive population. The Domese Carnival then ends on Grasso Tuesday with the traditional children’s dance.
Carnival of Cannobio (from 6 to 9 March 2025)
Moving on the Piedmontese bank of Lake Maggiore, another unmissable appointment of the tourist district of the lakes is Carnival of cannobioa few kilometers from the border with Switzerland and which presents an interesting peculiarity: it is in fact the last carnival of the territory, as the country is the only one in Italy outside Lombardy to follow the Ambrosian calendar And therefore to celebrate after the Roman one with processions, masks and playful historical traditions. Historically, in fact, the countries of the Upper Verbano followed the Ambrosian rite: a tradition that resisted even when the parishes cannobins went from the diocese of Milan to that of Novara in the early 19th century. Despite the bishop’s order to adapt to the Roman rite, Cannobio opposed with aspra resistance threatening: “O Ambrosian, or Luteran”. It was then the 1990 diocesan Synod that officially and fully restored the Ambrosian rite in the country, while confirming it under the diocese of Novara.
This year the appointment is therefore from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 March, days in which the real protagonists will be the historic figures of Re Busecon and Regina Marianin: Chosen every year by the Carnival Committee, the two are first engaged in representative events between Italy and Switzerland and, later, during the days of the Cannobine celebrations, they are visited by numerous “sovereigns” by other Piedmontese and Swiss countries. The name of the king is emblematic, which refers to the “Busecca”, the tripe in Lombardy dialect, and which therefore refers to good food and fat.
The celebrations begin the week before, with the Mayor of Cannobio who delivers the keys of the city To Busecon and Marianin, during a ceremony colored by a touch of satire in local dialect on the life of the community, thus adding a note of irony to tradition. On Saturday, the streets of the town are then animated by a lively procession, composed of musical bands, typical masks and thematic wagons (which are then evaluated by a jury based on criteria of satire, allegory and technical aspect). Thanks also to the numerous events and musical evenings that take place at the PalaCarnevale, set up for the occasion, Cannobio catalyzes the arrival of hundreds of masks and numerous carnival monarchs from Switzerland and other Piedmontese valleys, with a strong presence from Val Vigezzo, despite following the tradition of the Roman Carnival.
And after the trifle festive on Saturday, on Sunday evening in the hamlet of Traffiume the suggestive and traditional is held papier -mowing puppet stake, metaphorical passage that marks the beginning of Lent: The participants dance around this fuck on fire (about double dimensions compared to the natural ones), to burn and thus symbolically close the carnival.
Carnival in the Anzasca Valley (from 8 February to 8 March)
The celebrations continue in Valle Anzascain the hamlets of Macugnagawith a program full of tradition and taste in several appointments throughout the month of February and the beginning of March. After the first event on Saturday 8 February ad Elderly with chatter, bingo and dinner, continue on Saturday a Bannio Anzinowhich proposes a tasty typical raclette. The following Saturday, on 22, a Pontegrande he banquets with polenta, salami and gorgonzola, to continue on Thursday 27 a Borca with risotto, mixed boiled meat and apple pancakes for the little ones, and conclude on Saturday 8 March in the hamlets of Bracket and pecetto With an unmissable day: entertainment to the pecetto chairlifts followed by a lunch in Piazza Staffa with polenta, salami, shank and typical cheeses. In the afternoon, however, music in the square for the little ones, while for adults the party continues with the après-ski Macu.
Carnival of Stresa (from 1 to 4 March)
The fun is not lacking also at Carnival of Stresawhich transforms it Chapiteau Carnival Circus In an enchanted world for young and old. The party begins on Saturday 1 March with a DJ set from 21:00, while on Sunday we continue with the Court of King Falcettwith a great parade and a competition of masks for the little ones. The next day, the carnival of the little ones will fill the air of joy thanks to a moment of games and animation. Finally, Tuesday 4 March at 12.00, the appointment is with Pulenta and Salamitt with the final closing at 9.00 pm of Gran Ball in Maschera.
A holiday in the tourist district of the lakes, mountains and valleys of Ossola turns into an experience
which leaves the mark between nature, relaxation, well -being, traditions and good food.
All information on itineraries, news and paths are available on the districtlaghi.it website,
together with the scheduled events calendar, updated daily.
Press Office Tourist District of the Lakes
DAG Communication | [email protected]
Miriana Cappella | [email protected] | +39 370 1569522
Marilisa Laviola | [email protected] | +39 339 8001799