The historic corridors of Monaco-Ville were transformed into a vibrant open-air festival as the Principality celebrated the return of its traditional summer carnival, U Sciaratu. Organised by the Animation Service of the Mairie de Monaco, the annual event effectively signals the commencement of the summer season on the Rock.
This iteration of the centuries-old carnival was themed around "fantastical animals," drawing locals and international visitors to the narrow streets extending from the Place du Palais. The evening itinerary featured a procession of large-scale creatures alongside street performers, fire-eaters, and various musical troupes.
Designed heavily as a family-centric gathering, the festival integrated several interactive stations across the old town, including dedicated face-painting and temporary tattoo workshops, giant bubble demonstrations, and balloon sculpting. Food stalls offering traditional carnival fare like cotton candy, popcorn, and ice cream lined the parade route.
Following the street processions, the festivities transitioned to the Place de la Mairie, where a public open-air ball hosted by a live DJ extended the event until midnight.
Historically celebrated during the winter period preceding Lent, U Sciaratu - derived from the Monegasque word for "uproar" or “commotion” - originally involved structural effigies of straw burned at the palace terraces. While the winter iteration faded in the late twentieth century, its modern reinstatement by municipal authorities as a summer festival continues to preserve the cultural heritage of the Principality within a contemporary framework.
Photo Credits: Direction de la Communication - Manuel Vitali