Some time ago I took my camera and my youngest daughter and we went to take a look at the medieval fair that the local pro loco association had organized in the small medieval village that is the capital of the comune where we live. It is a tiny village built on a rock with an old medieval fortress, now a ruin, looking out over the plains towards Lucca and Pisa, the old enemies in olden times. That ruin is a perfect setting for most events but most of all for a medieval fair!
Different tents that you could look into and all over the place people dressed up, playing different roles. I talked a bit with one of the organizers (he used to work in our small post office and lives just by the railway crossing where I pick up my children after school) and he told me that many of the people dressed up came from various associations and that they did this as a hobby. Well they did get paid a little because some of them came from quite afar. I was very impressed by the dedication they showed in the re-staging of medieval life.
There were so many beautiful things on display and I fell in love with the woven fabrics, some of which you can see in the photo on the left, some in the photos below, the muted but light colours and all the art of the intricate weaving was stunning.
There were stands or tents for lots of different professions and occupations, there was a small monastery with a raised garden in the middle and with all possible herbs and spices on display in a small 'apothecary'. There were stalls to show the tools for illumination, glass making, blacksmithing; there were tents and places for fun and play as well and inns to eat and drink in. There were musicians and dancers as well and a bard and his beautiful instruments, I have to say that hearing the harp being played in that place was something very special. There were also displays of medieval arms and I was very impressed by a man shooting with a crossbow, the bell 'rang' every time he hit the sack and it 'rang' a lot!
To be honest I didn't expect to like it when I went to the fair but I did, it was peaceful, beautiful and fun to photograph. (And there were not too much commerce going on and that was the best thing of it all!) I hope I have managed to share something of what we saw and experienced, we had a great time there me and my daughter!
Thanks for sharing your visit, Ilva; love the photos :)
ReplyDeleteas soon as i saw the word "fair", i was hoping it was a renaissance fair. went to ours on the wisconsin/illinois border a couple years ago -- hadn't been since i was a girl. such fun and whimsy. a great way to look back at history and experience it firsthand.
ReplyDeletecheers and thanks for posting,
*heather*
Magical fair, your images go right to the heart, one wishes to have been there in person too!
ReplyDeleteI think I would have enjoyed it too. :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful _ i would have loved to have joined you there. Gorgeous photos too - I'm intrigued by the apothecary stall.
ReplyDeleteJust popping in to say hello. I'm not dead, just busy. Normal service will resume as soon as possible :)
ReplyDeleteLove
Di
xx
<span>Hi Ilva,</span>
ReplyDeleteWe made it to Lucca and Pisa, but not your town. We would have loved to see a medieval fair in one of these historic towns. What a beautiful region you live in. We'll come back with our girls and stay longer and rent bikes in Lucca and drink coffee with you :)
What a lovely day out with your daughter. The market is wonderful, I would have spent an age there. Your comment about Lucca and Pisa was interesting as I never knew they where rivals. One of my favourrite restaurants is in the hills just outside of Lucca, we've visited it a couple of time over the years... hmmmm, I think we shoudl go back soon!
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