During the night of “Berlingaccio” (Carnival Thursday) in the city of Borgo San Lorenzo one can meet strange masked characters that play very suggestive scenes and tableau. They do not talk, only move silently and with elegance dressed in their Venetian-style dresses.

When you can meet them:
Saturday February 11, from 15 to 18 o’clock, a great representation of the “Berlingaccio” will be in Florence with a procession of costumed characters and at moments they will involve the public. In addition to animating the streets of Florence’s historic center the procession presents 2012’s edition of the characteristic Carnival of Mugello.

The masked group will arrive at the train station Santa Maria Novella by train  and from there it will start their route from Santa Maria Novella to Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi, Piazza Signoria and the most characteristic places of Florence’s historic center.

Thursday February 16 – AMBIANCE AND MYSTERIES IN A NIGHT CARNIVAL – Borgo San Lorenzo (historic center)
From 21 o’clock during the night of Berlingaccio hundreds of fantastic and mysterious characters in Venetian-style parade in the historic center’s squares and alleys with the theme “SYNERGY”: an invitation to search for a common purpose, spiritual and practical to be able to influence one’s life and not vice versa. There will be ten locations where you can find dames and knights: in the intimacy of the bedroom, socializing during dinner over a loaded table, in the salon with musicians and fops, in erotic moments and in situations of vibrant energy and strength.

Their own real theater with stage actions based on mimic, on suggestions of music, on lights, on magnificent costumes: each participant is given the freedom of involvement and interpretation.  Also the store windows will be animated by characters disguised in the eighteenth-century style.
The show is planned and coordinated by Vieri and Patrizia Chini of the Teatro Idea of Borgo San Lorenzo.
Info: 0039 (0) 55 849661

If on the other hand you prefer to see a more classic Carnival suitable for children there are events at Florence and in numerous communes of the area.

The Florentine Carnival matches with the Festa del Cioccolato (Festival of Chocolate) which is celebrated on two weekends, February 11/12 and February 18/19.

At Borgo San Lorenzo parade wagons are in the historic center February 5,12, 19 and 21. Always in Mugello a little Carnival in Vicchio February 11 and San Piero (in Sieve) will be disguised February 18.

The city of Calenzano in the oldest part of Castello celebrates a medieval carnival on February 19. Medieval carnival also in San Casciano Val di Pesa February 19.

The carnival of Sesto Fiorentino is completely dedicated to children and takes place February 5, 12, 19 and 21

The parades of allegorical wagons go wild also at Dicomano: February  5, 12, 19 and 21.

Near Signa, in the village of San Mauro, one of the liveliest carnival takes place. Wagons, parades and fairs of carnival on February 5,12 and 19.

Staying on the subject of wagons, it is possible to see them also at Rufina on February 12, 19 and 21. The carnival of Figline Valdarno is entirely dedicated to children: events with masked processes February 5, 12, 19 and 21.

A big carnival celebration on the square of Greve in Chianti February 19 and in the old village of Certaldo on February 18.
Children will gather in Piazza del Popolo of Montespertoli February 12,19 and 21.

Finally the events of the commune of Vinci: the carnival of the kids with wagons and costumes at Vitolini, February 5 and 12 and the carnival on both sides (of the river Arno) at Sovigliana, February 5, 12, 19 and 21