Piemonte Italia

Historical Carnival of Ivrea 2012

The highlight of the event is definitely the famous and spectacular Battle of the Oranges, an occasion of great involvement and strong emotion, planned this year for Sunday 19 February. But the Historical Carnival of Ivrea is in its entirety, with its two months of initiatives, a unique event, recognised as an Italian event of international importance. Its spirit is rooted in the commemoration of an episode of deliverance from tyranny, dating back to the Middle Ages: a baron who starved the City was driven away thanks to the rebellion of the daughter of a miller who did not want to submit to the jus primae noctis and started the popular revolt. The heroine of the festival is the Miller’s Daughter, with the General at her side, who, since the early 1800s has had the task of guaranteeing a correct unfolding of the event, together with his Napoleonic General Staff, composed of expert Officers on horseback and graceful Female Sutlers. The Assistant Grand Chancellor, Magnificent Podestà, guarantor of the city’s freedom, the Procession with the Flags of the Districts represented by the Priors and the band of Pipes and Drums complete the gallery of historical figures. As is tradition, the closing takes place on Ash Wednesday (22 February) with the distribution of polenta and cod in Piazza Lamarmora.