Embedded Files
Sorry… Spent a few days without internet. Back to the blog…
There is a ton to see in Assisi, including the incredible Saint Francis Basilica, but other peoples pictures are better than ours so I will focus on the Calendimaggio, the unbelievable medieval festival that takes over Assisi for three days (and for many residents, for months) every year.
The whole thing is am competition between the two parts of town - upper (sopra) and lower (sotto.). There are afternoon and evening pageants, including sporting events (like crossbow shooting!) music and parades.
Google it, then go!
The one other thing we did – a wine tasting in Spello
Love the chicken hat
Crazy wheel
Upper town finale
This church is the staging ground for the upper town’s preparations
Prep for pageant
Not sure how that barrel will get into that lorry!
The MC
Artisanal charcoal shot for Ho
The setting for the pageants is the main piazza and this church - a repurposed Roman temple.
Everyone participates!
Announcing the pageant
Noblemen
This is just one of four “plays” / parades each side of town puts on, each with costumes, props and music created by the participants, with several hundred people in costume participating. Apparently many people in town spend 7-9 months each year preparing for this.
This pageant is about the seasons…
Ascetes and flagellants
And a hermit in a tree
Stage set
Winemaking
Winter
Incredible stage sets
And the arrival of spring
Culminating in the raising of the maypole
And raucous cheering for their part of town. This year the lower town (sotto) wins.
Page updated
Report abuse