The ancient Carnival of Ivrea includes a massive orange fght
Time for carnival in Italy
Though Italy’s carnival season is crowned by the masked mania of Venice, there are spirited festivities across the land. One of the oldest and most unique is in Ivrea, a historic town in the foothills of the Alps. Traditionally held over three days, it re-enacts a storied medieval revolt led by a miller’s daughter against a feudal tyrant, with colourful processions, music, and feasts of beans and salami doled out from big cauldrons. The undoubted highlight is the Battaglia delle Arance, a massive food fght where teams on foot and the ‘bad guys’ in horse-drawn carts pelt each other with oranges. After the citrusscented spectacle is over, be sure to explore Ivrea, which has an imposing castle, and is a great base for walking in the Alps or visiting elegant Turin.