Situated on the foothills of Mount Etna, and with views of the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, the Baroque town of Acireale hosts the best carnival in Sicily.
The first carnival festivities go back to the 18th century, so it has experience in putting on a great show including a procession of huge floats made from papier-mâché and flowers. In keeping with the Italian tradition, the allegorical floats satirise those in power, caricaturing the newsworthy politicians and celebrities of the moment.
Participants sport masks, wild hats and costumes, so there’s a great atmosphere as well as the overriding feeling that locals are eager to keep a centuries-old tradition alive.
Website: www.carnevaleacireale.com
