Events in Grosseto and the surrounding area: detail
From May 25 2008 to August 10 2008
The Balestro del Girifalco - Massa Marittima
The "Balestro del Girifalco" (Falcon Crossbow Contest) is held twice a year: the fourth Sunday in May and the second Sunday in August (at night).
8 crossbowmen from each of the 3 "Terzieri" (quarters) in which the city has been divided since the days in which Massa Marittima was a City State participate in this grand Medieval pageant: Cittanuova (white, red and green), Cittavecchia (white, black and yellow) and Borgo (gold, blue and red).
Before the contest, 150 people dressed in faithful reproductions of Medieval costumes colorfully parade before a crowd of thousands. The parade winds through the streets of Massa Marittima to the piazza del Duomo, the scenic contest settings.
The contest begins following the evolutions of the skillful flag wavers: arrows are shot from antique Italian crossbows, faithful replicas of those used in the fifteenth century. After loading his weapon, the crossbowman takes his stand at the firing line and shoots his arrow at a target, called the "corniolo", 36 meters away. The corniolo is a 13 cm diameter wooden cylinder that protrudes 42 cm from a 50 cm diameter circular black base.
The winner is the bowman whose arrow hits closest to the bull's eye. The winner is awarded a golden arrow trophy while his "Terziere" wins a hand-painted silk banner.
Nozio © 2008
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