ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the Italian celebrations for the Franco-Spanish Alliance. It also presents a comparative consideration of the festive occasions which occurred within the framework of the Franco-Spanish marriages. It then, focuses more closely on the main events celebrated in Italy, especially the foot tournament held in Naples. This rich collection of printed sources not only provides a map of the most important events, but also focuses on their specific political and cultural significance. The absence of large-scale celebrations for the occasion in Venice was due to the particular customs regarding spectacles in the city, as well as to political considerations. The opening ceremony of the Carnival was the main public festive event, together with the celebrations at Ascension when the Doge paid homage to foreign powers. It is clear that no Venetian institution ordered celebrations comparable to the procession of triumphal chariots, organised in July 1598.
