People from all over Liguria go see this unique and traditional show at least once in their lives because it really marks the beginning of the Carnival season and it is a unique memory from childhood which will take us back to when ‘the king of the city’ was surrounded by his court and other masks of the North West carnivals (now this latter tradition has unfortunately disappeared).
Every year the Province organizes the Carnival of Savona with ‘his majesty’ Ciccio, the most famous carnival mask in the region accompanied by the most renowned historical groups from Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy and Valle d'Aosta.
There is usually a gathering in the town’s main Piazza (square) and following that the participants will move to the docks in the harbor. In the afternoon, ‘His Majesty Ciccio will disembark, as usual, at the steps under the Torretta tower. After his landing the masked procession normally starts, touring the town on foot followed by children wearing all sorts of Carnival disguises and the parade normally ends at the City Hall where the mayor of the town symbolically hands over the keys of the city to the king of the Savona Carnival.
Ciccio gets the keys of the City of Savona
A Band usually plays live music and offers the musical accompaniment of the event.
Ciccio has a nice big belly, a red cap and a red and white striped shirt which reminds us of sailors and seamen and it is said that he comes from the sea to bring joy and luck to everyone in Liguria.
All children are invited on the boat with a parent to celebrate King Ciccio and take a ‘selfie’ with him (somewhat a new tradition) but they need to fill out a free online registration form since there is a limited number of spaces onboard.
Opening Parade of the Carnival season
The same day of the arrival of Ciccio, and according to the same tradition, some adventurous swimmers of all ages take part in the Cimento Invernale, basically it means they take a swim in the freezing cold waters of the Ligurian Sea wearing nothing but a swimsuit.
No special physical preparation is required to participate in the Cimento Invernale swim and since an optimal age is not indicated, potentially anyone can do it. The only recommendation dictated by common sense is to be in a general state of good health.
The dip in the water is normally scheduled around 11 a.m. and it is followed by the awards ceremony of the participants. The Cimentisti, the people participating in the event, are usually offered a hot drink when they come out of the sea and a snack after the award ceremony.
All the cities of the Ligurian Riviera, one after the other, organize the day of this trial in the coldest months of the year. Young and old, men and women, despite the low winter temperatures, all of them do not hesitate to bring out their swimsuits to challenge the sea and some people even say it’s for health reasons because we know that ‘what does not kill you makes you stronger indeed!.’
There is also a traditional Fiera (fair) held the same day at the same location so, throughout the day, dozens of stalls sell sportswear and winter clothing for men and women along with footwear, leather goods, household goods, toys, food and wine products from the region.
It is a very cheerful occasion for Ligurians to ‘give some color to an otherwise grey winter’ and, on this day, children parade with their costumes throwing coriandoli (confetti) and stelle filanti (streamers) to passersby.
