The first Viareggio Carnival parade was held in 1873. The event began when wealthy middle-class residents organized a procession of floats decorated with flowers in the Tuscan seaside city of Viareggio.
The parade was not initially the giant satirical spectacle associated with Viareggio today. Local citizens reportedly responded to high taxes by putting on masks, turning the celebration into both entertainment and social commentary. That blend of civic protest, humor, and public display became central to the carnival’s identity.
The tradition developed into a famous parade of enormous allegorical floats caricaturing politicians, celebrities, and other public figures. A major technical change came in 1925, when sculptor Antonio d’Arliano introduced a paper-mould technique over iron and wood scaffolding. The carnival was interrupted by both World Wars, resuming in 1921 after the First World War and in 1946 after the Second.