Incredibly detailed floats from Italy's Viareggio Carnival Parade
Every American knows the Mummers Parade and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade create wacky and fascinating floats each year, much to the delight of the thousands of people who line up in the cold for a chance to see them in person.
Another famous parade that's known for its detailed floats occurs a hop and a skip across the Atlantic ocean at the Viareggio Carnival in Italy. The parade is considered the highlight of the carnival's festivities and one of the most important carnivals in the country. The carnival runs for the entire month of February and commences just in time for Lent to begin.
The carnival originally started in 1873 as a masquerade for the Italian elite to express their displeasure with high taxes. Nowadays the parade's main focus is their papier-mâché floats that draw locals and tourists from all over the world, not to mention the masked musical-filled parties that take over the streets at night.
Every year the floats become more advanced with moveable pieces that the crowd goes wild for. The floats tend to highlight politics, celebrities, culture and fanciful characters. It shouldn't come as a shock that one political figure in particular appeared on various floats despite his ties to another country...
Check out the masterpieces below:
