Carnival of Sciacca

The Sciacca Carnival is one of the oldest popular traditions in western Sicily, a carnival event now known not only in the province of Agrigento because over the years the music, dances, masks and allegorical floats have attracted tourists not only from Sicily and other regions but also from foreign countries who come to see the majestic papier-mâché floats and mini-wagons parade, followed by the related masked groups which are conceived, designed and created in the months preceding the festival involving, right from the first preparations, many people local. The Carnival of Sciacca begins even before the floats leave for their majestic parade inside the historic center and this makes it even more particular and unique, in fact, the night before the parade is reserved for the final assemblies. The floats are placed in parade order along the street of the first city itinerary and are assembled on site and already on this occasion people, taken by curiosity, follow the progress of the works. The parades follow two routes in the historic center of Sciacca and are held on Friday (first route), Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (second route) and coincide with the week before the start of Lent. Carnival begins on Shrove Thursday with the symbolic handing over of the keys to the city to the king of Carnival Peppe Nappa, a character adopted by the people of Saccensi as a local mask who distributes wine and grilled sausages from his cart for the entire duration of the Carnival. He opens the party and closes it on the last evening on Shrove Tuesday when, accompanied under the famous notes of the musical anthem, he is set at the stake in the square accompanied by fireworks to greet the Carnival.