Visit Any Of These 6 Towns Near Rome During Their Festival
Sfida dei Borghi (Challenge of the Wards) - Monte Compatri. Imagine a medieval-style archery contest, people dressed in period costume surrounding the contest area and an attentive crowd following every shot of the competitors. This is what you will see if you go to Monte Compatri, a small town in the vicinity of Rome, in the middle of August. The interest of the townsfolk is particularly keen because each archer represents one of the towns 5 wards and a victory will enhance the "status" of a ward for the coming year. Before the actual contest starts, a long, sumptuously dressed procession easily wins the spectators admiration, thanks to the beautiful costumes worn by its 300 participants, who parade through the local streets packed with enthusiastic crowds. Street artists and other performers complete a truly interesting programme that is always enjoyed by the local population as much as by visiting tourists.
Mercatini del 600 (17th century Markets) - Bassano Romano. Would you like to spend a day back in the 17th century, do some shopping among stalls arranged as they were at that time and have a lunch or dinner based on age-old recipes? If you are interested, all you have to do is go to Bassano Romano in early July. You will see people dressed in a 17th century manner, while all decorations, from flags to torches, from floral displays to typical local scenes will reflect a way of living of days gone by, when people were undoubtedly not as well off as they are today, but somehow seemed more serene and less stressed than they are now. The event is viewed so important by the local authorities and the entire population that every year experts are called upon for advice and supervision in order to ensure maximum accuracy in this living representation of the towns history.
Gara dei Giochi di Bandiera (Flag Wavers' Competition) - Piansano Romano. Ever seen a live show of flag wavers dressed in medieval costume drawing fantastic designs in the air, throwing their flags up above them, catching them as they fall back and exchanging them with those of other performers, all this being done to the rolling of drums or the blare of trumpets? If you haven't had an opportunity of watching a similar show, we recommend you take a short trip to Piansano Romano in July. You wont regret it, we promise. This team, like many others, has taken part in many exhibitions and contests with other teams elsewhere in Italy as well as abroad. Among the countries where they have held their performances, we might mention Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Hungary and the United States.
Cena Medievale (Medieval Dinner) - Vignanello. Summertime in Italy spells night and day festivities and celebrations. Because the days are usually so warm, people normally tend to go out at night. So, quite a number of events take place in the evening. This is just what happens at Vignanello, a town located fairly close to Rome. On the third week of July a medieval dinner is held in town to enable guests to taste dishes prepared in accordance with old recipes of local cuisine. The setting definitely harks back to the Middle Ages and the sensation of having for a moment reverted to an ancient past is enhanced by a historical procession, where the participants wear period costumes. As a final touch, flag-wavers provide a splendid exhibition in which folklore and ability are equally matched.
Infiorata (Flower Petal Art Display) - Genazzano. Flowers have always been regarded as a beautiful ornament of houses and gardens, but if you wish to see a display of flower petal art over half a mile long, forming a variety of designs made directly on the streets, you must go to Genazzano, a town in the Rome area, on the first Sunday in July. This special event draws large crowds of visitors because of the patient and precise work involved and its extraordinary results. An unbroken stream of colourful patterns winds through the streets of the town delivering a message of peace, beauty and love of nature that is truly touching in its simplicity and yet admirable in its perfection. In the afternoon the Procession of the Sacred Heart, which includes 400 participants dressed in period costumes, passes over the flowers decorating the streets as a sign of devotion.
Sagra dei Bucatini all'Amatriciana (Festival of Bucatini all'Amatriciana) - Nerola. Let's say you are in Rome and, delighted though you are with all the splendid things you have seen in the Eternal City, you would like to get a touch of that free and easy way of living Italians are known for, particularly outside major cities. Well, you name it, we have it! In summertime especially, there is an ample choice of evening events organized by nearby towns to allow local people and visitors to spend a few hours in a relaxed and carefree manner, while having hearty meals based on typical products of the area. The midsummer festival at Nerola has, as the name shows, bucatini all'Amatriciana - a type of pasta - as its centrepiece. As always, the expert hands of Nerola cooks provide top quality dishes that are sure to please even the most demanding palates, but obviously the meal will also include other tantalizing specialties.
Mercatini del 600 (17th century Markets) - Bassano Romano. Would you like to spend a day back in the 17th century, do some shopping among stalls arranged as they were at that time and have a lunch or dinner based on age-old recipes? If you are interested, all you have to do is go to Bassano Romano in early July. You will see people dressed in a 17th century manner, while all decorations, from flags to torches, from floral displays to typical local scenes will reflect a way of living of days gone by, when people were undoubtedly not as well off as they are today, but somehow seemed more serene and less stressed than they are now. The event is viewed so important by the local authorities and the entire population that every year experts are called upon for advice and supervision in order to ensure maximum accuracy in this living representation of the towns history.
Gara dei Giochi di Bandiera (Flag Wavers' Competition) - Piansano Romano. Ever seen a live show of flag wavers dressed in medieval costume drawing fantastic designs in the air, throwing their flags up above them, catching them as they fall back and exchanging them with those of other performers, all this being done to the rolling of drums or the blare of trumpets? If you haven't had an opportunity of watching a similar show, we recommend you take a short trip to Piansano Romano in July. You wont regret it, we promise. This team, like many others, has taken part in many exhibitions and contests with other teams elsewhere in Italy as well as abroad. Among the countries where they have held their performances, we might mention Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Hungary and the United States.
Cena Medievale (Medieval Dinner) - Vignanello. Summertime in Italy spells night and day festivities and celebrations. Because the days are usually so warm, people normally tend to go out at night. So, quite a number of events take place in the evening. This is just what happens at Vignanello, a town located fairly close to Rome. On the third week of July a medieval dinner is held in town to enable guests to taste dishes prepared in accordance with old recipes of local cuisine. The setting definitely harks back to the Middle Ages and the sensation of having for a moment reverted to an ancient past is enhanced by a historical procession, where the participants wear period costumes. As a final touch, flag-wavers provide a splendid exhibition in which folklore and ability are equally matched.
Infiorata (Flower Petal Art Display) - Genazzano. Flowers have always been regarded as a beautiful ornament of houses and gardens, but if you wish to see a display of flower petal art over half a mile long, forming a variety of designs made directly on the streets, you must go to Genazzano, a town in the Rome area, on the first Sunday in July. This special event draws large crowds of visitors because of the patient and precise work involved and its extraordinary results. An unbroken stream of colourful patterns winds through the streets of the town delivering a message of peace, beauty and love of nature that is truly touching in its simplicity and yet admirable in its perfection. In the afternoon the Procession of the Sacred Heart, which includes 400 participants dressed in period costumes, passes over the flowers decorating the streets as a sign of devotion.
Sagra dei Bucatini all'Amatriciana (Festival of Bucatini all'Amatriciana) - Nerola. Let's say you are in Rome and, delighted though you are with all the splendid things you have seen in the Eternal City, you would like to get a touch of that free and easy way of living Italians are known for, particularly outside major cities. Well, you name it, we have it! In summertime especially, there is an ample choice of evening events organized by nearby towns to allow local people and visitors to spend a few hours in a relaxed and carefree manner, while having hearty meals based on typical products of the area. The midsummer festival at Nerola has, as the name shows, bucatini all'Amatriciana - a type of pasta - as its centrepiece. As always, the expert hands of Nerola cooks provide top quality dishes that are sure to please even the most demanding palates, but obviously the meal will also include other tantalizing specialties.
