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03/01/2015
The Carnival of Bagolino is truly unique.
The Carnival in Bagolino is a festival that has existed since centuries, masks and dance since 1518
Dance in Bagolino accompanied by the typical music of the “balarì” or joke with the “maschèr” to revive a XVI century Carneval. The folklore of this territory, the warmth, the friendliness and hospitality of its people are well represented by the Carneval of Bagolino, classified as one of the most important ethnological discoveries of the past two centuries. It's a traditional, typical manifestation that has its origins in the XVI century, during the Repubblica di Venezia. It is celebrated every year in the days of Sunday, Monday and Shrove Tuesday. The carneval, that vaguely resembles the one in Venice, has passed down music and dance from century to century (almost in a “tarantella style), unique in Europe. The dancers, called “Balarì”, dress elegantly with precious head-dresses, wraps and capes and parade aroun the town, moving in time to the sound of violins, already known here from 1500. More playful and flippant are the masked participants or “Maschèr”, dressed as old men or women and with a high pitch voice make fun of the passers-by and curious spectators. The Ariosa, the final dance, is the culminating event of the carneval, where Ballarì and Maschèr dance together with great energy and enthusiasm, in a spectacular circle dance.
