Why Battle of the Oranges?

The battle is without doubt the most spectacular part of the carnival highlighting the fight for freedom, the symbol of the Ivrea festival. Along with all the other historical events that are part of carnival, the orange battle constitutes an incredible cultural patrimony, which makes Ivrea one of the leading carnivals on both the national and international scene. Orange-throwing is also the time with the highest collective participation. Everybody can take part by enrolling in one of the nine teams on foot or by manning the carts.

The Battlefield:

Unlike Spain’s La Tomatina, the Battle of the Oranges isn’t a backpacker free-for-all. It’s highly structured, steeped in history and contains some competitive elements. It’s free and fun to watch for nearly 100,000 spectators, but for the nine competitive teams of almost 4,000, it’s serious business and the highlight of the year. The people are divided into nine groups and they throw oranges at each other on the carnival days of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Keep tracking the time for the Battle of the Oranges in Netherlands Antilles.

About Battle of the Oranges Location:

Situated in the Piedmont region, Ivrea is a lovely little town, complete with a Cathedral, a castle, and a Gothic church. These small Medieval Italian towns are quite picturesque, and have a rich history. Worth visiting just on its own merits.