Comelico Superiore Carnival: the archaic charm of the ‘Maskarada’

In the heart of the Belluno Dolomites, there is a ritual that defies time. The Comelico Superiore Carnival is not just a parade of masks, but a deep immersion into the roots of a community that, every year, stages the “Maskarada”, one of the most evocative events of the Archaic Masquerades of the Dolomites.

While in other areas of Cadore traditions have faded under the blows of modernity or ancient ecclesiastical suppression, here the ritual is more alive than ever.

Lachè and Matazin: the lords of the procession

The real stars of Carnival are two iconic figures: the Lachè and the Matazin. They are not simply masks, but ceremonial guides whose costumes are true masterpieces of local craftsmanship.

Both wear the calòta, an imposing velvet headdress embellished with necklaces, brooches, and precious jewelry, arranged with geometric precision. But it is during the dance that the magic happens: when they leap towards the sky, the long colored silk ribbons open up like rays, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that breaks up the white of the winter landscape.

The rhythm of the accordion and the “Vecia dal Matazin”

The party explodes at the first light of dawn. The procession, led by musicians and lively Paiàzi (clowns), winds through the villages to gather the masks. Music is at the heart of the event: an ancient polka, handed down orally, which culminates in the “Vecia dal Matazin”.

This dance is not just entertainment; it is a propitiatory ritual. The dancers approach each other, chase each other, and twirl around in a ceremony reminiscent of a wedding ritual, a symbolic gesture necessary to drive away winter and invoke the return of spring.

Contrasts and traditions: the Matazèra

Alongside the splendor of the Matazin, the Matazèra appeared in 1953. Created in Candide by the Alfarè Lovo family, this figure represents the popular and “poor” soul of the festival.

–The Matazin: Escort the “beautiful masks,” dressed in silk and jewels.

–The Matazèra: Accompanies the “old woman masks,” wearing humble materials such as bottle caps, dried pasta, and dark colors.

This dualism between noble and poor, beautiful and grotesque, makes the Comelico Superiore Carnival a unique anthropological experience in Italy.

Useful information for travelers

If you decide to visit Comelico during Carnival, prepare to be swept away: you won’t be a mere spectator, but part of a collective flow of music, adrenaline, and Dolomite hospitality.

Calendar of Masquerades in Val Comelico:

–Sunday, January 25, in Padola Mascrada par li parturi, starting at 9:00 a.m., cheerful masks in the streets of the village;
–Sunday, February 8, in Dosoledo Masquerade of Santa Plonia with the typical masks of the Matazin and Matazère 10:00 a.m., arrival of the first parade of typical masks in Piazza Tiziano, departing from Sacco; 2:00 p.m. second parade; 9:00 p.m. dance evening at the Albergo Bellavista;
–Sunday, March 15, in San Pietro di Cadore Mascrada dal Borsit from morning to evening dances with the typical masks of the Matazin and Matazère.
–Saturday, January 24, 2026 Mascrada d’San Bastian in Danta Di Cadore, parade and music through the streets of the village.