THE HISTORY
The Historical Carnival of Ivrea is a unique Italian event of international relevance.
A "dream" that is repeated every year, bringing, history, tradition, spectacle, excitement and solemn ideals to the streets and squares of the town of Ivrea.
In this event history and legend mingle to create a spectacular sequence crossing the centuries. The spirit of Carnival lives through the re-enactment of the city’s liberation from tyranny dating back to Medieval times: a baron who starved the city was driven away thanks to a miller’s daughter (the Mugnaia) who rebelled against the "jus primae noctis" and roused the people to revolt. In this commemoration every year the new version of the Carnival is celebrated as Festival involving the whole town, during which the community of Ivrea can show its self-determination. In order to show their involvement in the event, all townspeople and visitors who take to the streets wear the "Phrygian cap" (berretto frigio), a red stocking-like hat that shows their support for revolt and therefore their aspiration to freedom, as it was for the heroes of the French Revolution.