San Giovanni in Persiceto's 150-Year Carnival with Unique 'Spillo' Performance

The historic Carnival of San Giovanni in Persiceto, in Emilia-Romagna, dates back to 1874 and is approaching its 150th anniversary. Its distinctive feature is the 'Spillo' performance, a ritual where allegorical floats transform their structure through complex mechanical mechanisms to tell a story. The first documented Spillo was in 1885, but the tradition evolved significantly, stabilizing around 1970. During the first Sunday of Carnival, floats enter Piazza del Popolo as closed 'chrysalises' and open up like flowers, judged by a secret jury of three experts in painting/sculpture, architecture/construction, and subject/execution. Scores are given in thirtieths, kept secret for a week, and announced the following Sunday. No monetary prize is awarded; winners receive the Gonfalone di Re Bertoldo, a banner embroidered with all past winners' names, presented by Re Bertoldo, a mask derived from the character by local writer Giulio Cesare Croce. The carnival is unique nationally and internationally for its artistic polymorphism and ephemeral performance, deeply felt by the local community. It aspires to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.