Ambrosian Carnival: what to do in Milan

The most fun and colorful time of the year is here, but did you know that Carnival in Milan lasts longer than in other Italian cities? The reason is that we have the Ambrosian Carnival.

But what is the difference between traditional Carnival and Ambrosian Carnival?

The Ambrosian Carnival, instead of following the Roman calendar, follows the Ambrosian ones, created by Saint Ambrose, the patron saint of the Lombard capital.

According to this the starting date of Lent (which ends at Easter) is not Ash Wednesday but Sunday, the first Sunday of Lent.

This is why in Milan the last day of carnival is not Shrove Tuesday but Shrove Saturday, the day on which events and celebrations are organized in the city to mark the end of the Ambrosian Carnival.

When does Carnival begin and end?

This year’s carnival starts on 5 February, but the period when the biggest celebrations take place is during the so-called Fat Week, which runs from 16 February (Shrove Thursday) to 25 February.

  • Shrove Thursday: 16 February 2023
  • Carnival: 19 February 2023
  • Shrove Tuesday: 21 February 2023
  • Milan Ambrosian Carnival (Shrove Saturday): 25 February 2023

If you have decided to spend Carnival in Milan, you have chosen the right city and you will be spoiled for choice with exhibitions, theater shows, disco evenings, lots of food, especially sweets, and to end on a high note, the big Carnevalone party with parades, floats and many stalls.

What to do in Milan during the Ambrosian Carnival

There are so many things to do at this time of year. If you love art and culture, February usually sees the renewal of exhibitions, or you can take the opportunity to visit some museum you haven’t had the chance to discover yet, or organize Carnival-themed visits.

Visiting places of culture in an alternative way

Visit the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

This anniversary could be the right occasion to organise a guided tour of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.
Just on Sunday 26 February at 3.30 p.m. there will be a guided tour “The Wonders of the Ambrosiana – Carnival Special“.

Fabbrica del Vapore between pop art and comics

Otherwise, the Fabbrica del Vapore is hosting two exhibitions that are really well aligned with this time of year.

The first is dedicated to one of the most original and colorful artists of all time, ‘Andy Wahrol – The Advertising of the Forms‘, and the other is the exhibition ‘Zerocalcare – After the Bang‘, dedicated to one of the most famous italian cartoonists of the moment who.

And how about visiting the exhibition Leonardo3 – The World of Leonardo with a group of friends, perhaps masquerading as the great Italian genius himself?

Another exhibition you absolutely must visit on this occasion is “Pop Air” by Balloon Museum at Superstudio Più, a fun visit among hundreds of installations made of coloured balloons with the only purpose of having fun!

The Ambrosian Carnival of parades, floats and sweets

As we have already written, the last day of the Ambrosian Carnival this year is 25 February, Shrove Saturday.

The entire day will be enlivened by the traditional parade through the city center, of floats decorated with flowers, papier-mâché figures and traditional masks.

There will also be jugglers, street artists, and many antique and other stalls with traditional Carnival sweets to be enjoyed, such as: zeppole, castagnole, and farsoè, the most famous sweet of this tradition, a tasty ball made of eggs, flour, butter, and sugar, fried and filled with cream, chocolate, or pieces of apple. Mouth-watering.

Conclusion

As you can see, Milan never disappoints, even during this occasion it offers plenty of things to do to experience the city. But if you are thinking of celebrating this occasion in privacy with a group of friends, you can always organize a party at the In-Domus Campus.

A fancy dress party would be a fun occasion to spend an evening with friends, with clothes and masks perhaps made by the residents themselves and why not a contest at the end of the evening to reward the most original disguise.

At Carnival you can do anything: visit the city, participate in events, taste traditional sweets, play tricks and transform yourself into any character.
The important thing is to have fun and be with friends!

Live, study, feel In-Domus!

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