Carnival of Ivrea: the Battle of the Oranges

Every year in late February the center of Ivrea, near Turin, becomes the stage of one of the most unusual Carnival celebrations in the world: the Battle of the Oranges.

Carnival in Italy is usually associated with the sophisticated costumes of Venice and the colorful carts of Viareggio, but there’s a place near Turin where locals prefer to fight hard with oranges at this time of the year…

This event is called the Battle of the Oranges and it’s the historic Carnival of Ivrea. Put it simply, it is the recreation of the battle that took place between the town’s villagers and its tyrannic rulers back in the middle ages. Here are some notes following my experience this year. 

The story behind the battle

Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges is an event is steeped in history. Back in the XII century, the then-lord of Ivrea instituted a law with which the newly married women in his territory were obliged to spend their wedding night with him. While most women accepted this for fear, Violetta, the local miller’s daughter, refused to sleep with the nobleman and cut off his head. This ignited a revolution against the oppressive rulers, and from that day Violetta became a symbol of freedom.

The Battle of the Oranges revokes this dark piece of local history, with participants split into commoners and noblemen and the orange representing the tyrant’s head.

How it works

The battle is played between nine teams on foot, representing the commoners, and the orange-throwers (aranceri) on horse-drawn carts, playing the role of the guards. Each of the nine teams belongs to a specific town’s district and there are three main battlegrounds: Piazza di Città, Piazza Ottinetti, and Piazza Freguglia.

If you are not a member of one of these teams, then you must wear a berretto frigio (Phrygian cap), the traditional red hat that marks you as a spectator and not a target. This hat symbolizes the pursuit of freedom and wearing it is a sign of solidarity with the insurgents.

There is also a fantastic historical parade taking place on each day of the battle. Participants include Violetta and a series of characters representing the historical heritage of Ivrea, such as the General and his staff, the Assistant Grand Chancellor and the Podestà. The name of the girl playing the role of Violetta is announced on the Saturday before the first battle.

When to go

The battle takes place over three consecutive days at the end of the Carnival season, from Sunday to Fat Tuesday. Sunday can be intensely crowded and it is also the only day when you are charged to access the town center. I recommend going on Tuesday when the winning team is announced with a ceremony in front of the town hall (although to be honest with you, I still don’t have a clue how the winner is actually determined).

What to wear

Wear your ugliest clothes. Seriously, leave your expensive bags or designer jackets at home, because that red hat doesn’t really guarantee that you won’t be hit by oranges. Also, make sure to wear some slip-resistant shoes, because after the battle the streets are covered in a thick orange pulp that makes them very slippery.

What’s the point?

This event is sometimes labeled as dangerous and perceived as an enormous waste of food. Firstly, this event may seem crazy, but there’s a lot of planning and organization behind the scenes, with tens of volunteers that work hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. Secondly, the 700 tons of oranges used for the battle, supplied by certified companies from Sicily and Calabria, were originally destined to be pulped and what remains of them at the end of the event is used to produce energy and compost heap.

I was actually pretty concerned for the horses, but the reality is that they are the stars of this event and during the battle, there are always people around to take care of them and protect them from those oranges.

Where to stay

To fully enjoy the party, staying overnight is highly recommended, especially on Fat Tuesday when you can attend also a fantastic closing ceremony at night. A good option is staying at Il Tuchino B&B, in the medieval heart of Ivrea. Alternatively, you could use Turin as a base and get to Ivrea by train: it’s just about an hour away, tickets and timetable are available on the Trenitalia website.

USEFUL TIPS

• Oranges literally fly everywhere and wearing a red hat doesn’t really save you. You can stay behind safety nets during the battle, but to be honest, that’s not fun, so don’t be afraid of walking into the battleground, just watch out and shield your face
• Don’t forget to cover your camera and phone with a transparent plastic bag to protect them from all that sticky orange juice
• Further information about the Battle of the Oranges is available on the historic carnival of Ivrea website

Locals consider the Battle of the Oranges to be an important part of their culture and I must say that it’s one of the most spectacular events I’ve ever seen, one that sees the joyful participation of the entire community – and leaves a whole town smelling of freshly squeezed oranges!

Until next time,