It's in my blood.
Since I was given my first camera, when I was a little kid, I have always been fascinated by capturing in a shot what my eyes were seeing around me. The beauty of nature or the smile of a friend, an event or an emotion... Precious pearls to be framed in a photo. Whether freezing a movement or moving the stillness, looking at normality through a different angle or portraying the exceptional, I can choose different perspectives, I can catch reality. I think this passion is in my blood, I inherited it from my Grandpa and then from my Dad, and it has always had a great influence in my life. Come and follow me in my journey searching impressions of life.



Sunday, June 23, 2013

Ferie delle Messi of San Gimignano


Italy, land of natural beauty, art and historical traditions. 

Especially during this time of the year,  many towns throughout the country celebrate historical festivals drawing from rich ancient traditions, often  dating back to the Middle Ages. Such festivals commemorate the way of living of that time and share processions in medieval costumes, re-enact duels and dances, and many times reach the peak in competitions among different fractions of the town (contradas). If probably the most famous of all is the Palio of Siena, other towns in Tuscany have their own events.

             17mm f/6.3 1/800 sec ISO 200 – Gruppo Tamburi of San Gimignano, 2013

Every year, the third week-end of June, the town of San Gimignano, in the Siena province, celebrates the Medieval Harvest Festival or Ferie delle Messi (Ferie Messium), re-enacting a real event that in the thirteenth century the entire population was living as propitiatory recurrence for the harvesting period. Dances, singing and games were arranged for the enjoyment of everyone, but also archery competitions and combats on horseback between champions of the contradas.


              40mm f/14 1/200 sec ISO 640 – Gruppo Sbandieratori of Aquila, 2012



                                     17mm f/14 1/400 sec ISO 640 – The Rite of Purification, 2012

On Sunday morning at noon, the knights, fully dressed and on horseback, and all the population of the four contradas (Castello, San Giovanni, Piazza and San Matteo) attend the Rite of Purification where the knights and the horses receive a special blessing in front of the Duomo church.


                                     150mm f/8 1/500 sec ISO 640 – The Rite of Purification, 2012

The celebration of the festival is organized by the Association of the Cavalieri di Santa Fina (Knights of Santa Fina), that since 1993 has been active in reawakening San Gimignano's medieval traditions.



               100mm f/13 1/640 sec ISO 640                     17mm f/6.3 1/800 sec ISO 200
               Gruppo Sbandieratori of Aquila, 2012            Gruppo Sbandieratori of San Gimignano, 2013


               20mm f/6.3 1/800 sec ISO 200 – Gruppo Sbandieratori of San Gimignano, 2013

This year for the first time, the Cavalieri of Santa Fina presented the newly formed group of Sbandieratori dei Cavalieri di Santa Fina: their debut during the Ferie delle Messi has been a great success.


              17mm f/22 1/200 sec ISO 640 – Gruppo Sbandieratori of Aquila, 2012


              100mm f/13 1/640 sec ISO 800 – Compagnia d'Arme Rocca di Montestaffoli, 2013


              135mm f/10 1/500 sec ISO 800 – Compagnia d'Arme Rocca di Montestaffoli, 2013


              17mm f/8 1/125 sec ISO 640 – Corteo delle Messi, 2013


                 17mm f/13 1/320 sec ISO 400 – Knight from contrada of San Matteo, 2013

 In addition to competitions of Tug of War, Game of the Braid and Archery, the four contradas compete in the Giostra dei Bastoni, the climax of the festival. The knights, armed with short bats, race to get first to the pole in the middle of the track, and hit the helmet to make it fall to the side towards they are running and win.


              100mm f/10 1/800 sec ISO 1250 – Giostra dei Bastoni, 2013 – Castello vs San Matteo

Turns are very tight and both knights and horses must be very skilled, fast and powerful. They compete one with another, until the final between the best qualified knights which will proclaim the winner.


              100mm f/10 1/640 sec ISO 1250 – Giostra dei Bastoni, 2013 – The knight from San Matteo hits
              with so much strength that he breaks the bat


              100mm f/10 1/640 sec ISO 1250 – Giostra dei Bastoni, 2013 – Knight from San Giovanni


              100mm f/10 1/640 sec ISO 1600 – Giostra dei Bastoni, 2013 – the winning shot during the final


                    170mm f/7.1 1/400 sec ISO 1000                      250mm f/6.3 1/400 sec ISO 1000
                    Golden Sword Award Ceremony, 2013               Golden Sword Award Ceremony, 2013


                                  210mm f/6.3 1/400 sec ISO 1000 – Gold Sword Award Ceremony, 2013
 
San Matteo won even this year the Giostra dei Bastoni and the captain of the contrada received the Golden Sword, the much desired prize, the emblem of triumph for the winner knight.



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4 comments:

  1. JennyJune 23, 2013 at 11:23 PM

    Don't forget to have some gelato from Sergio's place for me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. blackcatJuly 4, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    Complimenti Guido! Alcune delle tue foto saranno pubblicate sulla photogallery del sito dei Cavalieri di Santa Fina. Grazie di tutto, tanti saluti dal segretario dei Cavalieri, Tina Fasulo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. frazguJuly 4, 2013 at 6:43 PM

      Grazie, Tina. Fatemi sapere quando saranno pubblicate.

      Delete

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