Every year on the first full Thursday, Friday and Saturday of May, it happens. Banners wave, horns blow, the drumming starts and the city is draped in flags. The locals in their medieval dress, dance and sing, compete in medieval games and complete to win.
Parte de Sopra or Parte de Sotto? The upper (above Piazza del Comune) and lower (below the piazza) put on the most amazing medieval spring festival and everyone picks a side ... even the dogs and microphone booms! (see below!)
Parte de Sopra or Parte de Sotto? The upper (above Piazza del Comune) and lower (below the piazza) put on the most amazing medieval spring festival and everyone picks a side ... even the dogs and microphone booms! (see below!)
We were staying in Sotto (lower, with the red scarves) but our local friends Anne and Mauro were from Sopra, so we ended up donning blue scarves and hiding them under our jackets when heading back down to our hotel! This is serious stuff!
And completely and totally magical.
Nobilissima Parte de Sopra
Magnifica Parte de Sotto
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
in the Piazza del Commune
in the Piazza del Commune
More Calendimaggio to come!
