Where :
6500
Bellinzona
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Awaited with excitement and enjoyed with great passion, from the 11th to the 16th of February, King Rabadan's Carnival is back in Bellinzona. A tradition dating back some 150 years and which transforms the Ticino capital into the kingdom of fun and cheerfulness, extravaganza and irony. For some years the destiny of the kingdowm has been depending on Dante Pesciallo, King and holder, during the ephemeral period of the Carnival, of the keys of the city.
Mr Pesciallo, for how long have you been embodying King Rabadan?
"Eight years ago, almost for a joke, somebody asked me to do it, and I must admit, this was a great honour. It's very rewarding and always filled with new emotions, especially considering the fact that the Kingdom welcomed some 170,000 visitors in 2009. And then, if I think that I represent a society which can boast 147 years of history, being King allows me a small place in the story of Canton Ticino. It will be remembered forever."
What are your tasks as "King"?
"The duties are varied. I am invited by many other sovereigns to attend the various carnivals in Ticino: each year I receive more than a hundred invitations, and I can manage to get to about sixty. During Rabadan itself, I'm very busy: from the opening to the kids' parade, from the visit at the market to the guggen music parade. And then, there are the visits to the old people's homes, the apéritifs with the sponsors, interviews with the media, the Sunday parade, the tug of war, etc."
Please tell us about your court...
"One of the elements that make me a bit different compared to the previous kings is the fact that the Rabadan society is represented not only by the King, but by the entire court: my beautiful Queen and my splendid damsels are unique. If possible, we always move around together and I see that people appreciate this. With a bit of jealousy as well: I'm always with five women...!"
The Bellinzona carnival lasts a few days: what is your favourite moment?
"During the Carnival there are many intense moments, but there are two that, even if they happen each year, move me every time: meeting the kids and the old people. The smiles and joy that the kids express, especially during their parade, and the affection from the older people, especially when I visit their houses. I wonder whether there will still be a king coming to visit when I'm old myself."
Is there an advice you would give to your subjects? And to a tourist who arrives for the first time in the capital during your reign?
"Firstly, a tourist should be sure of their accomodation, because the guggen music bands usually book a large majority of the available beds in the Bellinzona region. Their choice of what to do might depend on their age: for young people the nights are a great party, while for the "less young", the various events taking place during the day could be more appealing. In any case... come every day and come to see me, so that we can have a chat and drink an apéritif together: in the end, it's not everyday that you get the chance to have a drink with a King! Cheers to everyone, and I hope that a large number of you will come."
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