I wrote the title of this post like that just to get your attention! Today I want to say something about not just
flag throwing or flag tossing in Tuscany but more generally about the
great costume festivals that we have in this part of Tuscany. Annual festivals, related either to the season or to religious holidays and local saints' days, have always played an important part in Tuscan social life, going right back to pagan times. Indeed, the foundations of many of the Christian festivals, like those of a number of Christian churches, date from Roman times or earlier.
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| Flag thrower at a costume festival in Tuscany |
These costume festivals have enjoyed a considerable revival over the past 40 years and annual re-enactments of famous events in local history have similarly become very popular. These events, usually mediaeval in character, have become increasingly skilled and sophisticated in their presentation to the point where they not only occupy the attention of the local population but have become major attractions for a wider audience.
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| Giostra dell'Archidado in Cortona |
Nearest to home and during June, we have the famous festival known as the
Giostra dell'Archidado (crossbow tournament) in
Cortona.
This competition commemorates the wedding of Francesco Casali, Lord of
Cortona, and the noblewoman Antonia Salimbeni of Sienna, which took
place in 1397. In addition to the crossbow competition itself, there's
an excellent costume parade and usually a flag throwing exhibition
(which featured in the film version of Frances Mayes' book "
Under the Tuscan Sun"). This year, the
Giostra dell'Archidado takes place on 9 June but there are celebrations on the 1, 2, 7 and 8 June as well.
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| Giostra del Saracino (Joust of the Saracen) at Arezzo |
A very colourful festival tales place in
Arezzo at night on the last but one Saturday of June, and during the day and on the first Sunday of September. This is the famous
Giostra del Saracino (Joust of the Saracen), a jousting tournament that has its origins in the early 16th century and commemorates Christian efforts to hold back the Moslem tide in the 14th Century. In the main event, eight costumed knights charge towards a wooden representation of the Saracen, aiming to hit the Saracen's shield with lances. The Saracen is mounted on a swivel so that part of the task of the knight is to avoid being struck back as the Saracen spins round from the force of the blow. The format of the tournament reflects its origins as a military training exercise.
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| One of the four floats of La Maggiolata at Lucignana |
La Maggiolata is a flower festival that takes place during the last two Sundays and the preceding Saturday nights of May in
Lucignano, a charming village in the
Val di Chiana. Four allegorical floats, one for each quarter of the village, are pulled through the town. Between 15,000 - 20,000 flowers are used for each float and the floats are judged at the end of the Maggiolata. The victors are the first to sing and dance. Some of the parade costumes are 12th and 13th century in style while others are traditional European folkloric costumes, especially those of the dancers.
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| Giostra dei Bastoni at San Gimignano in June |
Another good example coming up in June is the harvest festival called the
Ferie delle Messi with its
Giostra dei Bastoni (literally, "stick joust") at
San Gimignano, about two hours drive from Borgo di Vagli. The event takes place on the third Saturday and Sunday of June, the highlight on the Sunday being the Grand Procession when more than two hundred citizens of San Gimignano parade in mediaeval costume from the middle of town to the Rocca di Montestaffoli to watch the
Giostra dei Bastoni. There are plenty of food stands and other attractions throughout the festival.
In
summary, mediaeval and Renaissance costume festivals take place
throughout the year in Tuscany, including several within easy reach of
Borgo di Vagli.
Many of these events are extremely
exciting and colourful, and should not be missed if you have the chance
to attend.
More about Festivals and other events in Tuscany.
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Borgo di
Vagli restored mediaeval hamlet in Tuscany
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Borgo di Vagli has been authentically restored as
a Tuscan vacation hamlet. The residences can be bought in the form of
fractional ownerships, making a holiday home in Tuscany possible at
modest cost.
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Fulvio Di Rosa
All content copyright © Fulvio Di Rosa 2013. All rights reserved.
