Medieval Festivals in Italy: History Fresh as a Daisy

Isn't it odd how we react to the medieval period? We gawk at little stone houses huddled together in the shadow of a defensive castle as if we wished to return to this gauzy dreamland, if for no other reason than to escape from a wonky present and a future riddled with doubt.

But life back then wasn't all peaches and cream either. You, the peasant or shop owner, needed that castle. Not infrequently did you gather what you could carry, leaving your sheep and cows, the ones you slept with (your trusty, if pungent heat source on chilly nights I mean, not what you were thinking!) to flee to the castle like a scurrying rat when they banged the drums and blew excited air into the trumpets and the heathen hordes began ramming the gates and shooting flaming arrows from all directions. (This they did often because unwashed tribes were many and nobody wanted to stand in line and wait until the last tribe was done raping and pillaging.)

Ah, yes, but it's our own modern times and endless war is unthinkable. Besides, we have the big, social computer with the cut and delete feature. So, what say we take a look at the best of the colorful medieval period with its dashing nobility and curious though colorful habits and leave the less palatable things, like plague and the Borgias, on the cutting room floor. It's called the Italian Medieval Festival and it's a whole lotta fun.

You can attend these all-day extravaganzas all around Italy, any time of year. There are jousts and archery competitions and even falconry exhibitions. Drums bang as the contrade or guilds march through the narrow lanes.  Sbandieratori throw flags in an artful manner and catch three at a time, always with a smile. Your kids will go nuts, trust me--they were supposed to be studying this medieval stuff and now they won't have to.

Imagine: people with swords whack away at each other and there's never blood. The wenches, furthermore are virgins--but we like saying "serving wench" while smiling wickedly and by golly we shall reserve the right to do so.

My kind of Medieval. Nobody stinks. The food is good. Hunchbacks juggle. They show you the old crafts, like making sandals. They do not tan leather, which makes rivers adjacent to the "tanner's quarter" into noxious chemical time-bombs you wouldn't want to live near. Life is good.

Just to prove to you that these kinds of Medieval festivals are all over the place, let me take you to little Fivizzano in La Lunigiana (northern Tuscany) and show you how this medieval thing takes shape in a town of maybe 5000 people. I mean really, pretty much half the town participates in these things. In costume!

Medieval Festival Resources

Joust of the Saracen | Giostra Del Saracino Arezzo - Arezzo's famous jousting competition

Summer Medieval Festivals in Tuscany

Disfida di Fivizzano: Fivizzano's Medieval Archery Festival (Video)

Falconry at Staggia Senese Castle near Siena