Born in the Middle Ages, the Roman Carnival, however, has its greatest explosion after the election of Pope Paul II, who, after the transfer of the papal residence to Palazzo Venezia, concentrates in the historical center and in particular in the Via Lata (current Via del Corso), most of the carnival festivities.
The art commedy, the masked parades, the Agonali Games, the allegorical wagons, tournaments and rides, the highly anticipated races of the Berber horses and the feast of moccoletti they involved the whole population, attracting travelers and curious from half the world.
With the advent of the Savoy in Rome in 1870, the sunset of the Carnival begins, mainly because of the many accidents that occurred during the games and that reaped different victims among the public present.
The places of the Carnival in Rome were above all Piazza Navona, where ludic representations and fireworks were organized, Piazza del Popolo, place of departure of the most important event of the Carnival, the race of the Berbers, Via del Corso, along which the race that ended in Piazza Venezia took place.
Typical characters of the Roman Carnival are Rugantino , an arrogant rascal of Trastevere with old trousers and neckerchief, Cassandrino , a noble
authentic, Meo Patacca , a boy of the people, and the benefactor Don Pasquale.
Valentine"s Day, as we know it today, protector of lovers, was established in 496 AD. by Pope Gelasius I to supplant the ancient pagan cult of the Lupercali .
In fact, since Romulus and Remus" times, in Rome, Lupercalia , pagan rituals dedicated to the god of fertility Faun (also called Lupercus ), were celebrated on February 15 which we purified ourselves in order to welcome the imminent spring bringing abundant fruit.
During these ceremonies, in particular, matrons and young brides offered themselves on the street to the lashes of the priests (called Luperci ) convinced that the scourging would bring happiness to their marriage or to their unborn child.
Considering that, in the calendar of Romulus, March was the first month of the calendar year, the Lupercali were considered end-of-year parties and the joyful and unbridled character of its rituals can be said to be Carnival.
Carnival 2023 at the Biopark
Sunday 19 February 2023, Bioparco di Roma, Viale del Giardino Zoologico, 20On the occasion of the Carnival, the Bioparco offers a special "Carnevanimale" rate: from 16 to 21 February a 4 euro discount on the cost of the ticket for all children and adults who will present themselves at the ticket office dressed up as animals.
Sunday 19 February from 10.30 to 15.00 it will be possible to participate in the animated path entitled "The masks of animals", a guided tour to understand how animals manage to survive thanks to disguises. The guided tour will touch the areas of: reticulated giraffes, snowy owls, white rhinos, zebras, Sumatran tigers, Asiatic lions and Cape penguins.
During the day, the appointments of A TuxTu con gli animali will focus on the "tricks" that allow animals to live in their own environment. You will be able to closely observe puffer cockroaches, ferrets, stick insects and other animals.
In addition, the keepers will organize the meals of the animals to discover the ingredients of the lunch of: Japanese macaques, ring-tailed lemurs, Asian elephants, chimpanzees, gray seals and Cape penguins.
The activities of the day are included in the cost of the ticket and take place upon reservation to be made on Sunday at the entrance.
