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Written  by Alessandro Oberti, Rayan Chahir, Anas Jedraoui II F from Italy

In this article, we’ll delve into six of the many typical Italian Carnival characters: Harlequin, Columbine, Pulcinella, Pantaloon, Doctor Balanzone, gianduja.

Harlequin: He’s the most famous Carnival servant and hails from Bergamo. He’s a lively and charming character, known for his diamond-shaped costume made of many pieces of colorful fabric. Harlequin is as agile as an acrobat and very cunning, but he uses his intelligence to play pranks on his master.

Pulcinella: the symbolic mask of Naples. He dresses very simply, with a loose-fitting white shirt and trousers, paired with a black mask with a long, curved nose. His personality is a mix of laziness and cunning. He’s also a great chatterbox, so much so that the expression «Pulcinella’s secret» originates from him. A Pulcinella’s secret is something everyone already knows, even if it were a secret.

Colombina: Venice’s crafty servant, the only truly famous female character. She is an intelligent and lively girl. She wears no mask and wears a simple dress and apron; she helps lovers and mocks the stingy old Pantalone, solving every problem with grace and common sense.

Pantalone: ​​a famous Venetian character. He’s a very rich but stingy old merchant, always thinking about money.He wears a black mask with a hooked nose, a black cape, and red tights. Although he’s strict with everyone, he’s often teased by his servants or the women he falls in love with. In essence, he represents the typical grumpy old man who wants to be in charge but ends up being mocked.

Gianduja: This is the symbolic mask of Turin and Piedmont. He represents the typical Piedmontese gentleman: cheerful, hospitable, and full of common sense. He wears a brown jacket with red trim, a yellow waistcoat, and the typical three-cornered hat with a cockade. A lover of good wine and good food, he always carries a mug with him. He is closely linked to chocolate: in 1865, during Carnival, he first distributed the famous chocolates that bear his name, gianduiotti.

Doctor Balanzone: This is the character from Bologna. He represents a man who thinks he knows everything: he’s a great chatterbox who talks nonstop, using very difficult terms, Latin, and endless arguments that often make no sense. He dresses all in black with a large white collar and a small mask that covers only his forehead and nose. He’s a strange and amusing character who is regularly mocked for his majesty and his useless advice.