Sfida dei Borghi (Challenge of the Wards) - Monte Compatri. The origins of this town are lost in the mists of antiquity and its citizens proudly celebrate its past glories with an archery contest held in mid-August. Its 5 wards compete with each other in this contest that is meant to recall the feats of ability of local archers, particularly during the Middle Ages. A long and colourful procession with participants wearing medieval costumes opens the core of the celebrations. Captains, standard-bearers and squires parade along the main streets of the town amid the cheers and applause of the crowd. Falconers display their training skills, while artists entertain the public with various games and pastimes.. The archery contest is of course the main feature of the celebrations, since the winner - and his ward - will be the champion until the following year.
Mercatini del 600 (17th century Markets) - Bassano Romano. This is a town in the vicinity of Rome that, though already existing in Etruscan (i.e. pre-Roman) times, actually grew to become a sizable town in the Middle Ages and had its heyday in the 17th century. The event we are referring to is organized early in the month of July to recreate the atmosphere typical of a 17th century market day in Bassano. The whole town turns into an open-air museum, as a result of accurate scenic effects that are intended to reproduce the daily life and activities of the local people at the time. A number of people wear period costumes, while standards, banners, torches, flowers and a host of other decorations help to complete a lovely setting that has been drawing ever increasing crowds of visitors, particularly among those who are interested in history from the late Middle Ages onwards.
Gara dei Giochi di Bandiera (Flag Wavers' Competition) - Piansano Romano. In the Middle Ages each Italian city used to have its own government, without an overall ruling authority. In fact these cities were often at war with one another, which called for the creation of local armies, as well as for the identification of a flag or banner for each city. In time, as national unification brought this state of affairs to an end, the individual flags lost their purpose. However, they have since become a symbol of the old city or town to which they belonged and frequently new ones have been designed to represent city wards. Obviously, this has led to a number of colourful and extremely enjoyable contests among various teams, and the one held in July at Piansano Romano offers an excellent opportunity to see with your own eyes one of these friendly, but equally hard-fought competitions.
Cena Medievale (Medieval Dinner) - Vignanello. Imagine Robin Hood and his band of merry men having dinner somewhere in Sherwood Forest. You can picture the scene with these men who lived in hiding, but, despite the hardships of their condition, managed to lead a happy, if simple, life and to enjoy eating and drinking together, in a friendly and cheerful atmosphere. Every year, on the third week of July, Vignanello, a small town not far from Rome, holds a medieval dinner during which food, based mainly on old, traditional recipes, is served in the simplest possible manner to the public, in a medieval setting. Though things are not exactly as they would have been in Robin Hoods days, every effort is made to see that the event turns out to be an extremely informal, but absolutely agreeable, even captivating way of spending a lovely summer evening in the company of many other people who just wish to relax and "have a night out".
Infiorata (Flower Petal Art Display) - Genazzano. Flowers have always been regarded as a beautiful ornament of houses and gardens, but if you wish to see a display of flower petal art over half a mile long, forming a variety of designs made directly on the streets, you must go to Genazzano, a town in the Rome area, on the first Sunday in July. This special event draws large crowds of visitors because of the patient and precise work involved and its extraordinary results. An unbroken stream of colourful patterns winds through the streets of the town delivering a message of peace, beauty and love of nature that is truly touching in its simplicity and yet admirable in its perfection. In the afternoon the Procession of the Sacred Heart, which includes 400 participants dressed in period costumes, passes over the flowers decorating the streets as a sign of devotion.
Sagra dei Bucatini all'Amatriciana (Festival of Bucatini all'Amatriciana) - Nerola. You are no doubt familiar with many types of pasta. Have you ever tasted bucatini, though? This variety is quite common in Central Italy, particularly in the amatriciana version. The sauce is absolutely divine and its ingredients include pancetta, which is similar to bacon. The Festival that takes place at Nerola in late July/early August focuses on this specialty and the result is invariably superb. We suggest that, if you are in the Rome area on the date of the Festival, you visit Nerola and see if you agree with our opinion. If you have tried bucatini all'Amatriciana back home, you will probably notice a considerable difference in taste, which is mostly due to the ability of the housewives who prepare the pasta with their own hands, according to traditional recipes that have been handed down for generations.
Mercatini del 600 (17th century Markets) - Bassano Romano. This is a town in the vicinity of Rome that, though already existing in Etruscan (i.e. pre-Roman) times, actually grew to become a sizable town in the Middle Ages and had its heyday in the 17th century. The event we are referring to is organized early in the month of July to recreate the atmosphere typical of a 17th century market day in Bassano. The whole town turns into an open-air museum, as a result of accurate scenic effects that are intended to reproduce the daily life and activities of the local people at the time. A number of people wear period costumes, while standards, banners, torches, flowers and a host of other decorations help to complete a lovely setting that has been drawing ever increasing crowds of visitors, particularly among those who are interested in history from the late Middle Ages onwards.
Gara dei Giochi di Bandiera (Flag Wavers' Competition) - Piansano Romano. In the Middle Ages each Italian city used to have its own government, without an overall ruling authority. In fact these cities were often at war with one another, which called for the creation of local armies, as well as for the identification of a flag or banner for each city. In time, as national unification brought this state of affairs to an end, the individual flags lost their purpose. However, they have since become a symbol of the old city or town to which they belonged and frequently new ones have been designed to represent city wards. Obviously, this has led to a number of colourful and extremely enjoyable contests among various teams, and the one held in July at Piansano Romano offers an excellent opportunity to see with your own eyes one of these friendly, but equally hard-fought competitions.
Cena Medievale (Medieval Dinner) - Vignanello. Imagine Robin Hood and his band of merry men having dinner somewhere in Sherwood Forest. You can picture the scene with these men who lived in hiding, but, despite the hardships of their condition, managed to lead a happy, if simple, life and to enjoy eating and drinking together, in a friendly and cheerful atmosphere. Every year, on the third week of July, Vignanello, a small town not far from Rome, holds a medieval dinner during which food, based mainly on old, traditional recipes, is served in the simplest possible manner to the public, in a medieval setting. Though things are not exactly as they would have been in Robin Hoods days, every effort is made to see that the event turns out to be an extremely informal, but absolutely agreeable, even captivating way of spending a lovely summer evening in the company of many other people who just wish to relax and "have a night out".
Infiorata (Flower Petal Art Display) - Genazzano. Flowers have always been regarded as a beautiful ornament of houses and gardens, but if you wish to see a display of flower petal art over half a mile long, forming a variety of designs made directly on the streets, you must go to Genazzano, a town in the Rome area, on the first Sunday in July. This special event draws large crowds of visitors because of the patient and precise work involved and its extraordinary results. An unbroken stream of colourful patterns winds through the streets of the town delivering a message of peace, beauty and love of nature that is truly touching in its simplicity and yet admirable in its perfection. In the afternoon the Procession of the Sacred Heart, which includes 400 participants dressed in period costumes, passes over the flowers decorating the streets as a sign of devotion.
Sagra dei Bucatini all'Amatriciana (Festival of Bucatini all'Amatriciana) - Nerola. You are no doubt familiar with many types of pasta. Have you ever tasted bucatini, though? This variety is quite common in Central Italy, particularly in the amatriciana version. The sauce is absolutely divine and its ingredients include pancetta, which is similar to bacon. The Festival that takes place at Nerola in late July/early August focuses on this specialty and the result is invariably superb. We suggest that, if you are in the Rome area on the date of the Festival, you visit Nerola and see if you agree with our opinion. If you have tried bucatini all'Amatriciana back home, you will probably notice a considerable difference in taste, which is mostly due to the ability of the housewives who prepare the pasta with their own hands, according to traditional recipes that have been handed down for generations.
About the Author:
Cristiano Rubbi - Long dedicated to the travel business in Italy, Cristiano has acquired a vast experience in arrangingtours for visitors to Italy. To see some of his suggestions go to his WEBSITE, visit his FORUM or just send an email to: info@niceandeasytravel.it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment