{:it}“Let us work, but not too much” from Bardino Vecchio in first place, “Scooby Doo” from Borghetto Santo Spirito in second and “Snow White” from Pieve di Teco in third place. This is the final standings of the Palio dei Comuni (Palio of Municipalities) of the 28th edition of CarnevaLöa, the great event organized by the Old Loano association with the contribution of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Municipality of Loano.
“After last Sunday's success,’ explain Loano Mayor Luigi Pignocca and Councillor for Tourism, Culture and Sports Remo Zaccaria, ‘again today thousands of people chose to spend an afternoon of fun for all ages in our town. It is always a great pleasure and a source of pride to see with what affection our fellow citizens and guests await each year the two parades of floats that characterize CarnevaLöa. Which is not only a ’Lovran feast‘ but a feast of the whole territory: in fact, the Palio dei Comuni is also attended each year by the floats made with skill and patience by the papier-mâché masters of many localities close to us, who are always glad to join us for this event. To them, as well as to all the associations and volunteers whose work has made this possible, goes our thanks. See you again on July 20 with the ’Summer Edition” of CarnevaLöa.".
Parading along the Loano waterfront and competing for victory this afternoon were the floats made by the papier-mâché masters of the riparian and inland municipalities that joined the event: Snow White (Pieve di Teco), Scooby Doo (Borghetto Santo Spirito), Grock the Clown King (Ortovero), Let Us Work, But Not Too Much (Bardino Vecchio, last year's winner with the Viva la Foca float), and Ferrari (from Albenga's Drift Kart Track, out of competition).
There were also the representative floats of the Loano boroughs that gave life to the Palio dei Borghi last Sunday: Planes (Piazza Rocca G.S. Team) and Wonderland (Mazzocchi), equal winners, and then Up (Prigliani), Harry Potter (Meceti), Queen (Borgo di dentro). Also parading will be Vecchia's Loano float featuring the Clock Tower and Palazzo Doria and “escorted” by Loano masks Beciancin (official mask of CarnevaLöa) Capitan Fracassa (Ligurian mask of the Commedia dell'Arte), Puè Pepin (the King of Carnival) and Princess Doria of the Castle, and Lego School, the Loano Rossello schools“ float dedicated to all children. This year there is also the ”Beccian Car,“ the ”rigadera" car, i.e., shaped like a watering can, that is the symbol of Beciancin.
The winners were determined by a jury of experts representing Ligurian carnivals, which awarded the “Sympathy” prize to the “Grock the Clown King” float from Ortovero. Presenting the awards was Loano city councilor and provincial councilor Luana Isella along with Ascom Loano president Daniela Leali and Vecchia Loano president Agostino Delfino.
The parade was broadcast live on Facebook (@carnevaloa). The Ventimiglia Philharmonic participated. Stefania Vivioli conducted the event. At the Casetta dei Lavoratori del Mare, delicious “bugie” prepared by the Brotherhood of White Hats could be enjoyed.
The Loano carnival has more than 100 years of history, and over time several associations have taken turns carrying on this tradition: the “Loano Sports Union,” the “Red Circle,” the “Fetaia,” the “Edelweiss,” the “Oriental Bluman Carovan” group, the “Puè Pepin” association , the “Azienda Autonoma di Turismo e Soggiorno” and since 1992 it has been the turn of the association “Vecchia Loano” with the support of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Municipality of Loano.
Over the past few years, the Loano carnival has come to be recognized by the region as the “largest carnival in Liguria” in terms of number of floats, and for the past few years has included a mask from the Italian commedia dell'arte, Capitan Fracassa, who together with Puè Pepin, King of the Loano Carnival since 1950, and U Beciancin, a goliardic character from the early 1900s and official mask, make up a carnival trio now known throughout Italy.
Loano, along with Parma, Turin, Vercelli, Castelnuovo Don Bosco (Asti), Busca (Cuneo), Verona, Aosta, Acerra (Naples), Catanzaro, Polignano a Mare (Bari), and Sciacca (Agrigento) is a co-founder of the “National Coordination Center of Italian Masks.” The three masks Beciancin, Puè Pepin, Capitan Fracassa and Princess Doria del Castello are included in the “Register of Italian Masks,” in which all the masks of the Italian commedia dell'arte and folkloric characters of the various regional realities are included. The goal of the initiative is to enhance the carnival not only as an occasion for entertainment but also as a historical, traditional, cultural and tourist resource.
In 2017, CarnevaLöa was awarded “historic carnival” status by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture for the important role it has played in promoting tourism in the area for a hundred years.
Finally, Vecchia Loano's “School of paper mache and carnival art” was officially opened this year. In the past few weeks some students from Albenga's “Giordano Bruno” high school took part in an internship at the shed where volunteers make the floats. “A few weeks ago,‘ explains Vecchia Loano president Agostino Delfino, ’teachers from the high school visited our shed and were able to see the great skill with which our ”papier-mâché' people make the floats. Enthusiastic, they proposed that we sign an agreement that will allow the children who wish to do so to work with us on the construction of these true works of art."{:}
