rea boasts a rich history stretching back to ancient times. Founded by the Romans as “Eporedia” in 100 BC, it served as a strategic outpost guarding the routes into the Alps. Its importance grew in the Middle Ages, becoming the center of the March of Ivrea and even briefly the capital of the Kingdom of Italy in the early 11th century under Arduino of Ivrea. Throughout the medieval period, Ivrea was a contested territory, eventually coming under the control of the House of Savoy, who built the impressive Castello di Ivrea in the 14th century to solidify their dominance.
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Battle of Oranges
Carnival of Ivrea (“Carnevale di Ivrea” in Italian), also known as the Battle of Oranges (“Battaglia delle arance” in Italian) , is one of Italy’s most colourful and historic carnivals that is steeped in tradition. It is an Italian event of international importance and is held annually before the onset of lent in the Piedmontese town of Ivrea. The carnival dates to the Middle Ages and is a symbolic representation marking the freedom of Ivrea from oppression, starvation and tyranny.
The carnival first took place in Ivrea in 1808 when the city’s French administrators decided to combine all the rowdy celebrations into one large carnival celebration. The highlight of the carnival is the Battle of the Oranges which is the largest food fight in Italy, where over 500,000 pounds of oranges are thrown throughout the city’s main streets and squares.
The Battle of the Oranges commemorates the civil war that occurred between the people of Ivrea and the Royal Napoleonic Troops, which broke out the day after hated tyrant Raineri di Biandrate, was slain. The protagonist of the carnival is a young heroine named Violetta, who was the daughter of the local Miller. Legend has it that she was the brave young lady that killed the tyrant Conte Ranieri di Biandrate.
The Battle of Oranges is fought between nine different teams who are divided by district and each team has its own colours, clothing, symbols and a decorated carriage. The Nine Tribes each have their own distinct history and story and you join a team based on district or family/friend allegiances. Once you have joined a team, you support it for life!
This event in Ivrea normally takes place during the Ivrea Carnival, specifically on the last three days before Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras). This means the most intense orange throwing usually happens on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday.
You can read more Carnivaland.com.
Preparing the town of Ivrea for the Battle of the Oranges is a major undertaking. It involves physically protecting buildings and businesses in the battle zones with nets and panels, managing the logistics of importing and distributing hundreds of tons of oranges to the teams, and implementing extensive safety and crowd control measures, including establishing designated safe areas and having emergency services ready for the multi-day event’s inevitable impacts and large crowds.
While some might see a bewildering, slightly sticky mess involving large quantities of orange fruit, the discerning observer (or perhaps, the participant) recognizes it for what it truly is: a primal, glorious celebration of… well, throwing things really hard at other people. For the gentlemen involved, it’s less a historical reenactment and more an annual, orange-scented opportunity to embrace their inner Neanderthal rage. Forget nuanced social interactions; here, the language is spoken in projectile fruit. It’s a symphony of splats and shouts, a vibrant, pulpy ballet where the highest expression of camaraderie is a well-aimed orange to the face of an opposing team member. One can practically feel the collective surge of… let’s just say, elevated testosterone levels, as thousands of men discover the simple, unadulterated joy of competitive fruit-chucking. It’s a peak experience, an orange-fueled catharsis that presumably keeps the local testosterone levels in check for the remaining 364 days of the year.
Should you dare approach the splendid chaos of Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges but wisely prefer not to experience the full impact of airborne fruit, immediately seek out the hallowed Red Cap. This isn’t just any hat; it’s your official, albeit somewhat symbolic, declaration of non-combatant status – a vital barrier against the rather enthusiastic, and surprisingly painful, impact of flying oranges. When the pulpy war reaches its peak intensity, tactical retreat behind the designated safety nets is not just advised, it’s a sensible act of self-preservation, offering sanctuary from the organic onslaught. Acquire this crucial piece of protective gear (and the accompanying right to hide) from the ancient custodians of chaos, the old ladies positioned at the entrance, who dispense these read head garments for a small fee, initiating you into the ranks of the (relatively) unbruised spectators. If you do get hit by in your face by an occasional orange, be prepared to withstand the pain. I think one of my ears that got a hit is still buzzing.
Castle Sabaudo
The Castello di Ivrea, also known as the Castle Sabaudo or the “Castle with Red Towers,” is a prominent Medieval fortress located in the upper part of Ivrea, Italy. Built starting in 1358 under the order of Amadeus VI of Savoy, the “Green Count,” it served as a symbol of the House of Savoy’s power in the region and is a significant example of 14th-century fortified architecture, notably constructed from red brick with imposing circular towers at its corners. Originally designed with four towers, one was dramatically destroyed when its gunpowder store was struck by lightning in 1676 and was never fully rebuilt. After its period as a Savoy residence and military garrison, the castle was notably converted into a prison in the 18th century, retaining this function until 1970. Currently the castle is owned by the municipality, has undergone restoration, and is partially accessible to visitors.
Battle of Oranges is the biggest orange fight festival in the world and probably the only one. If you do like food fights or medieval castles then this festival is for you!
My video below: