Anyone agrees saying that Acireale is the queen of Sicilian Carnival. Ten artisan yards work very hand all year round to prepare the Carnival stately carts, that during "The most beautiful Sicilian Carnival", process through the streets of the centre, in a triumph of colours and jokes, among the people, coming from all Sicilian towns, who crowd streets and squares. They are the allegorical and flowered carts, that compete in an official contest which elects the winners of the two categories. The performance sponsored by a great deal of corporations, lasts more than a week and it is enriched by outdoor shows, exhibitions, contests, musical and dancing events, which culminate in Shrone Tuesday with the Carnival King's stake and fireworks. An oddness: Acireale's carts still live beyond Carnival. Indeed, once Carnival is finished, they are first exhibited and then dismantled and sold in single parts in other towns that will make use of them next Carnivals.
APT Catania http://www.apt-catania.com E-mail : apt@apt-catania.com

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