Logistically, this is easy to get to Ivrea by taxi or train.
There is no guarantee that you won’t be hit by an orange so wear clothes that can get dirty.Pack some sunscreen as well as a water bottle to stay hydrated during the day.
Did you know that the town’s origins date back to 100 BC?
In the tiny town of Ivrea, in the Piedmont region of Italy, outside of Turin, there is a medieval tradition that erupts each year during Carnevale – The Battle of Oranges. A battle is about to start in this northern Italian city. He then wanders back into the fray. The Battle of the begins on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday. In the aftermath of his death, the townspeople stormed his palace in revolt. The Battle of the Oranges is accompanied by vibrant, ostentatious floats as well as talented musical and folkloristic groups that visit from all corners of Italy and Europe.I am kneeling on a stone floor with thirty Italians surrounding me. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month.Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic.
Nine teams engage in the battle, with others riding in carts who represent the tyrant’s men.
Squads of aranceri on foot defend their piazzas from those in carts who throw oranges representing arrows. One man for every team deals with the long shot of the orange towards the city Hall.
Although the origins are historically unclear, most people know the tale of the evil marquis, who attempted to rape a young woman in the town, but was instead decapitated by the woman. Eco-village hidden in the foothills of the Alps that created a massive system of psychedelic underground temples. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book, Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day.No purchase necessary. Aranceri Asso di Picche (Ace of Spades), founded in 1947Aranceri della Morte (Death’s Aranceri), founded in 1954Aranceri Tuchini del Borghetto (Revolutionaries of the Borough), founded in 1964Aranceri degli Scacchi (The Chess), founded in 1964Aranceri Pantera Nera (Black Panther), founded in 1965Aranceri Scorpioni d’Arduino (Arduino’s Scorpions), founded in 1966I recommend you reach out to some of the tribes a month in advance, ideally with an Italian speaker. They return fire hard. Book your stay for Battle Of The Oranges 2021 using the map below! When is the Battle of the Oranges 2020? This is just a warm up, the battle of the oranges food fight starts after 2pm.On the last day the carnival procession and the food fight start at 2 pm before the prizes are given to the winning team at 5:45 pm. I rise to my feet as the newest member of the Asso di Picche, one of the nine tribes competing in the Ivrea Battle of the Oranges.During the fight, I see one of the older members of our team (I’d guess 60-65), standing on the side with a fairly severe black eye. © 2020 BBC. Book an excursion to Turin, or go see the rest of Italy.Sink your teeth into the legendary cuisine of Italy, down an espresso – Italian style, and marvel at the architecture. It is this revolt, which is symbolized by the Battle of the Oranges every year.To add a certain level of authenticity to the event, a young woman is chosen from the town to represent the miller’s daughter, who killed the marquis, and teams are divided up along common and royal lines. The Battle of Ivrea is perhaps the best marriage of both history and good fun; an outdoor event where spectators get a chance to relive one of the most significant turning points in Italy’s past. The Battle of the Oranges is the most fun you can have with citrus fruit ... Old Italian men do old Italian men things, like nap and play draughts. As its name implies, you’ll be seeing lots of oranges: you can join one of the organized groups to throw them around!The event mimics the civil war between the Royal Napoleonic Troops and the people of Ivrea following the murder of the tyrant Rainieri di Biandrate. Red hats are on almost everyone: these denote you are a non-combatant and should be treated as such.