The origins of the Carnevale di Ivrea date back to medieval times. The carnival celebrates the downfall of a tyrannical baron and the daughter of a miller who convinced the people to rebel against the baron.
Oranges are not grown in quantity in the Ivrea area. They are a relatively recent addition to the carnival. In the past both apples and pears have been used. You can read more about the history of the Carnivale di Ivrea here.
As is usual, there is more than one version of events in the past. Click here to read another account of the history of the Carnevale di Ivrea.
The carnival is a riot of colour, action and passion. You can see the extraordinary range action and colour through pictures here. Do you have a favourite shot? Can you imagine yourself in one of these scenes.