Carnival season, generally in February, is a great time to visit Italy. During the weeks leading up to Lent, special festivities occur in cities and towns from north to south. Of course, the most famous carnival in Italy is the Carnevale di Venezia, the legendary carnival held in Venice each year. But the town of Cento, in the province of Ferrara in the Emilia Romagna region, organizes a pretty spectacular carnival worth seeing.

The Cento Carnival is rich in history and tradition. Given the city’s relatively small size, it is an especially ambitious endeavor that entails efforts from the entire community. Cento is equidistant from the larger cities of Modena, Bologna, and Ferrara and has a population of about 35,000.