Carnevale Acireale
Carnival Sicily 2025

Carnevale Acireale – Carnival Sicily 2025

Carnevale is celebrated all over Sicily, but this one is one of the most famous in Italy. Acireale is just 10 minutes by train from Catania between Mount Etna and the sea.

• If you want to stay overnight in Acireale, we recommend the Grande Albergo Maugeri, rated “Superb” by guests. The hotel is the heart of the historical centre with classically decorated rooms and a perfect location for exploring the Carnival events.

Where to stay? Acireale or Catania?

• Acireale Carnival attracts thousands of visitors from around the world, and the city’s hotels fill up fast.
• We recommend you stay in nearby Catania and take the train to the parade. Catania has a much more vibrant gay nightlife scene.

The Carnival

• The Carnival of Acireale is known as the Most Beautiful Carnival in Sicily and one of the oldest in Italy, featuring masks, confetti, lights, art, flowers, music, and fun. Pack your costume as the entire town dresses up for the nightly parties and events.
• According to the Lenten calendar, the Carnival is typically held in mid-February to early March.
• In 1880 the first papier-mâché floats were built in Acireale. From then to the present day, Acireale has maintained this tradition to the present day; they are truly remarkable. Other floats are made with more than 13,000 real flowers (geraniums, mainly) and include mechanical movements and led lighting.
• Many of the statues and figures are created from lemons and oranges grown in nearby orchards at the foot of Mount Etna. Perfume from these fruity creations fills the entire town. Displays often depict current events and celebrities, and competition is fierce as prizes are awarded for best floats in various categories.

Official Opening

• The Acireale Carnival program includes numerous initiatives throughout the territory. The opening ceremony , scheduled for February 16th 2025 (TBC) in Piazza Duomo , will see the delivery of the keys to the city to godmother Linda Pani . Among the most anticipated news, the performance of ” I Beddi ” with a hymn dedicated to the event.

The Parades & Shows

• From February 16th to March 4th 2025 – the historic streets of Acireale provide the perfect backdrop for the parades of allegorical floats, where the ingenuity and imagination of local artisans will be on full display.
• Each parade or show is  a journey through various themes, treated with allegory and satire, transforming even the most serious problems into a source of smile and reflection.
• Events take place at Centro Storico, (Historical City Centre), Acireale (CT)
• Sunday March 2nd, 2025 – The main parade is typically held on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday; however, several other parades feature miniature versions of the large Allegorical floats throughout the event.
• Daily tickets , available online, allow access to all parades and shows, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of the Acireale Carnival.
• Tickets start from 6 euros for the daily ticket and go up to 10 euros for Sunday 11 February .
• Acireale Carnival ends with the burning at the stake of “Re Carnevale” (King Carnival); this cathartic moment is followed by jaw-dropping fireworks.

Nearby Gay Catania (10 mins from Acireale)

• From Catania Central Station you can reach Acireale station in 10 minutes
• Catania is one of the most beautiful Sicilian cities and is known worldwide for its Baroque buildings, a theatrical style of grandeur popular in 17th century Europe.
• The city has a beautiful seaside location at the foot of Mount Etna. It also has a reputation for welcoming gay visitors from around the world.
• Catania is a city of coloured stone buildings shining brightly under the Mediterranean sun. The city is full of the sounds of Vespas zipping along narrow streets while Terrazzos brim with gay boys visiting for the Carnival, taking an aperitivo as well as enjoying the sights.

Bars

• Buio  – Start your evening at Buio, a gay bar in the city centre with a mix of friendly locals and tourists.
• Nievski – Historic alternative bar in Catania. You can find it in the heart of the historic centre in Via Alessi. It is recognisable by the lots of people sitting at tables along a terrace of street staircases.
• Codice Rosso – Large cruising bar with Dark Room, Sling Room, Gloryholes, Cabins and Cinema.

Clubs

• Discus Beach – When summer starts (from June to early September), this is the place to go! Discus Beach is the right place to dance under the stars, drink some cocktails and meet some Sicilian guy.
• Le Capannine  – in Viale Kennedy, hosts pop-up gay parties on Friday nights where strobe lights from the two dance floors on the seafront mix up with the starry sky of La Playa.
• Industrie – Gay-Friendly Club, busy at weekends.

Saunas & Cruising

• Terme di Achille is a busy, clean sauna with Turkish baths, spa, and Finnish sauna.
• South Factory Club (SFC) – Complete with a huge whirlpool bath for the Italian orgy of your dreams and a busy sauna area.

Gay Beaches

Catania makes for an ideal base to explore the island of Sicily, just over two and a half hours from Palermo and 50 minutes from the famous gay beaches at Toramina and 30 minutes from the town of Acireale home to one of Italy’s most famous Carnivals.

• Not far from the city, at the Oasi del Simeto, on Simeto’s southern bank, there’s a clothing–optional golden sand beach still wild and left unknown to mass tourism.
• Near Taormina, you can enjoy the sun and meet new people on the Fondaco Parrino beach. The area was made famous by Oscar Wilde, a frequent visitor and Truman Capote.
• Marianelli, in the nature reserve of Vendicari, you will find a secluded beach, wild and unspoilt, sandwiched between almond, lemon trees and sand dunes.

Recommended Hotels in Catania

The following hotels are close to the city’s top attractions and the carnival celebrations:

Palazzo Marletta,    Liberty Hotel,    Duomo Suites & Spa,    Hotel Centrum.