Every year, in Ivrea, Italy, during Carnival, the people stand up to recall and celebrate the story of Violetta, the miller’s newly wed daughter who was supposed to lay, on her first night as a bride, with the lord of the town, according to an old infamous principle named “jus primae noctis”.  

Violetta ended up slitting the throat of her tormentor, igniting the fire of rebellion that took to the destruction of the “Castellazzo”.

THE HISTORICAL RITES

The Fifes and Drums of the First Battalion Hunters. Nikon D810, 31 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

The Fife and Drum Corps of the First Batalion Hunters. Nikon D810, 31 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

The Fife and Drum Corps of the First Battalion Hunters. Nikon D810, 70 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/160″ ƒ/6.3 ISO 400

The “Generale” passing in review the Fife and Drum Corps of the First Battalion Hunters. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

The Vikings in visit to the Borghetto. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/5.6 ISO 100

Cod and onions ready to be processed at the Comitato della Croazia Polenta e Merluzzo. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/8 ISO 2500

Domenica Venditti, “mugnaia” 2017, with the “Generale” Claudio Ferrero minutes before the presentation to the crowd. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

The acclaiming crowd of the Borghetto. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

Domenica Venditti, “Mugnaia”, with the “Generale” Claudio Ferrero in the Borghetto district at the Ivrea Carnival. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

Falconer. Nikon D810, 40 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 12800

The “Fagiolata del Castellazzo” in Piazza Maretta on Sunday during Carnival. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/8 ISO 200

The Fifes and Drums Corps at the “Fagiolata del Castellazzo” in Piazza Maretta on Sunday during Carnival. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/8 ISO 200

The “Fagiolata del Castellazzo” in Piazza Maretta on Sunday during Carnival. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/60″ ƒ/4 ISO 800

The “Fagiolata del Castellazzo” in Piazza Maretta on Sunday during Carnival. Nikon D810, 27 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 200

The “Fagiolata del Castellazzo” in Piazza Maretta on Sunday during Carnival. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 800

The “Mugnaia” on the Villa Balcony for the “Preda in Dora”. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/500″ ƒ/9 ISO 800

Every year, thousands of citizens, dress up in historical costumes for five days of madness, celebrating the newly appointed “Mugnaia” (miller), marching in the streets, libations, distribution of beans and sausage, and, among other things, throwing each others tons of oranges. The party ends Ash Wednesday with the hand out to the needy plates of maize cod and onions.

THE BATTLE OF THE ORANGES

Oranges deployed in the Piazza di Città before the Battle. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/1000″ ƒ/16 ISO 800

A horse. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/1250″ ƒ/18 ISO 3200

The “Mugnaia” on her carriage before the Battle. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/500″ ƒ/11 ISO 400

“Aranceri” ready for the Battle. Nikon D810, 110 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 400

«Arancery« on car in Piazza di Città. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 400

In the pitch of the battle. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

In the pitch of the battle. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/320″ ƒ/9 ISO 400

Under the fire. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

The Battle at the Borghetto. Nikon D810, 70 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/200″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

The Battle at the Borghetto. Nikon D810, 48 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 400

The Battle at the Borghetto. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 400

The Podestà, Paolo Cafasso’s carriage. Nikon D810, 80 mm (80-400 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/125″ ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

Where the battle rages on: in Piazza di Città. Nikon D810, 120 mm (80-400 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/160″ ƒ/6.3 ISO 400

The battle rages on. Nikon D810, 150 mm (80-400 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/100″ ƒ/5 ISO 400

After the Battle. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/160″ ƒ/7.1 ISO 400

After the Battle. Nikon D810, 55 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/80″ ƒ/4.5 ISO 400

After the Battle. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

Cleaning up after the party has ended. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 12800

This is the oldest carnival in Italy, with roots sinking directly in the medieval tradition. There are no masks but historical characters and costumes; oaks, horses and oxen; fifes and drums, .

FACES OF THE CARNIVAL

A citizen of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/400″ ƒ/10 ISO 400

Chief of the First Battallion Hunters. Nikon D810, 50 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/5.6 ISO 400

A citizen of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/4 ISO 400

A citizen of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/60″ ƒ/8 ISO 100

A citizen of the Borghetto of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/5.6 ISO 800

Comitato della Croazia Polenta e Merluzzo. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/8 ISO 4000

Isabella Bretti, “Mugnaia” 2016 in the 2017 Ivrea Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/100″ ƒ/4 ISO 8000

Edoardo Aldo Cerrato, bishop of Ivrea. Nikon D810, 70 mm (24-120 ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

A citizen of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/160″ ƒ/4 ISO 200

A citizen of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/60″ ƒ/8 ISO 100

A citizen of Ivrea during Carnival. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 800

Carlo Della Pepa, mayor of Ivrea, February 2017. Nikon D810, 85 mm (24-120 mm ƒ/4) 1/125″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

During the five days of carnival, all citizens wear red phrygian hats, as a signal not to be targeted in the fight although, on the battle field, it’s not unusual to be unintentionally hit by a stray orange (ouch!).