Carnival in Livorno 2009The Carnival period in Livorno is supposedly shorter than in other parts of Italy because of a vow made to the Madonna in 1742 after a tidal wave hit the town. The Livornese promised to reduce the period of carnival festivities as thanks for being saved from the flood.

Carnival officially begins on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent, the period lasting for 40 days, excluding Sundays, ending at the Easter period. Lent was traditionally a time of fasting, so carnival served as a time of festivity and indulgence preceding this. Before Christianity, the wearing of masks and merrymaking was thought to ward off evil spirits.

Costumes & Accessories at the Costumeria Panciatici13th February 2010 We are coming up to the height of the Carnival period, with Martedì Grasso (Shrove Tuesday) on the 16th February this year. If you are thinking of dressing up and heading off to a special carnival party or even to Venice, the Livorno-based  Costumeria Panciatici can help you out.

Tucked away on the first floor of a palazzo in Via Magenta, the Costumeria Panciatici is a family-run costume hire business that has been going for more than 30 years.