Carnival in Oltrepò

Carnival – a religious occasion for some – is for many a time of year of colour, laughter and merriment.
Carnival 2025 starts on 16 February and culminates on Shrove Tuesday, 4 March, but in several places the celebrations continue beyond that. Each town chooses when and how to animate the streets of the city centre.

🎉How is Carnival celebrated in Oltrepò Pavese?

Carnival in Monteveneroso

Monteveneroso is a hamlet of Canneto Pavese, a place surrounded by vineyards. Carnival is celebrated here early: once again this year there will be a new edition of Polentarte in February.
This is the traditional polentata in the piazza, to be enjoyed with salamini, gorgonzola and wines from local producers, as well as the opportunity to admire an exhibition of art by local artists. 👨‍🎨

Carnival in Varzi

Allegorical floats parade through the streets of the enchanting village of Varzi at carnival time. The Piazza della Fiera is usually festively decorated, with live music and sweets to enjoy. 🪗

The Carnival of Varzi has always been the most transgressive of the Oltrepò Pavese, an explosion of irreverence and freedom rooted in a tradition rich in stories, handed down both in writing and orally.

Image taken from the Varzi Carnival Facebook page

What made the Varzi Carnival unique was (and is) an unusual detail: it was the women who masked themselves, who for a few days subverted the unwritten rules of society. They did not wait to be invited to dance, but chose who to lead on the dance floor, overturning every custom with audacity and irony.

Carnival of Cegni

The winter carnival in Cegni – a hamlet of the municipality of Santa Maria di Staffora – is not as heartfelt as the white carnival that Cegni celebrates in summer, but it remains a tradition, a meeting occasion with music, dancing, choirs and then wine, ravioli and, of course, the delicious pancakes. 🍩

Carnival in Voghera

The city comes alive with dance performances, street food and a parade of floats. 💃

Buricinela, the iconic mask of the Voghera Carnival, was born in 1875 from the inspiration of the poet Alessandro Maragliano and the mysterious ‘Society of the Moon’, a circle of young intellectuals with enigmatic charm.

“L’è turnà Buricinela!” With this festive cry, the Voghera Carnival returns to shine, bringing the magic of tradition back to the city. This year the event will be even more extraordinary: after many years of waiting, the streets will come alive with the great return of the parade of allegorical floats, ready to enchant young and old alike with colour, music and merriment!

Carnival in Romagnese

Also in the small village of Romagnese, allegorical floats parade for Carnival, and in the village square, the afternoon is enlivened by music. 🎶

Stradellino Carnival

🎉Every year, the Stradella Carnival is eagerly awaited, with the traditional parade of allegorical floats and celebrations through the old town centre in fancy dress, with music, street performers and good food, and there is usually an award ceremony for the most beautiful mask or costume.

Carnival is therefore one of those times of the year that has the good taste of village festivals.
Every child can be whatever they want, in an enchanted world where the streets and squares are transformed into a stage and for a day children become pirates, cartoon characters, magicians, fairies and superheroes. 🏴‍☠️🧚‍♀️🧙 🦸
For some of them, the carnival party is a chance to show where their dreams fly, as astronauts, scientists, explorers, formula 1 drivers, dancers and more.

And for grown-ups? Maybe not everyone likes it, but carnival undoubtedly reminds us of our carefree childhood and some people also get to put their creativity into play, helping the little ones prepare original costumes and making real sculptures for the parades of floats.

And last but not least… it is an opportunity to indulge in typical carnival delicacies, such as chiacchiere (chatters) with icing sugar and sweet carnival fritters – called sfarsö in the province of Pavia – empty, filled with cream, or in the variant with apples and sultanas.

Ever tried it? 😋

Image taken from Quatarobpavia