The 57th edition of the Sagra del Tordo will be held in Montalcino, in the province of Siena, on 25 and 26 October 2014.
On the days of 25 and 26 October 2014 the village of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, hosts the Sagra del Tordo, a historical folkloric event with parades, dances, shooting competitions between neighborhoods and a final feast of thrushes. Unmissable the good Brunello and the red wine of Montalcino.
A procession of about one hundred and fifty figures with costumes studied in detail and inspired by the period from the end of the fourteenth century to the beginning of the fifteenth century, parades through the streets of the town enriched by colorful flags. From Piazza Cavour, the procession continues towards Piazza Garibaldi to finally reach the tournament field, rebuilt in the shadow of the bastions of the fortress, where archery competitions will be held among the young people of the 4 villages - Borghetto, Pianello, Ruga and Labor.
The Sagra del Tordo has its origin in 1368, when Francesco Sozzi entered the city as the "first lord of the Fortress": for the occasion he established celebrations, competitions of skill and solemn eating and drinking to be repeated annually. The tradition of the thrushes, however, already existed in Montalcino at the time of Gaius Clinio Mecenate, adviser to Augustus and famous patron of artists as well as a very generous man. In fact, he had noticed that the thrushes gathered in Montalcino to peck the ripe olives, and having to obtain the means to "donate", he had the olive groves fenced with nets. Capturing the thrushes was not difficult for him, and that was how he brought them to Rome where he sold them for their weight in gold!
Since 1957, on the last Sunday of October, Montalcino has celebrated the Sagra del Tordo, an event that finds its equivalent, albeit in a reduced version, in the Apertura delle Cacce which is held on the second Sunday of August. Twice a year, therefore, the districts of Montalcino, Borghetto (white and red), Pianello (white and blue), Ruga (yellow and blue) and Travaglio (yellow and red), take to the field to challenge each other in a shooting competition. with the arc that lights up the minds of the whole population.
The Sagra del Tordo originates from the ancient hunting tradition of these areas; on the hill, in fact, where olive groves alternate with vineyards and Mediterranean scrub woods, in October the flow of migratory birds coming from the north and in particular of thrushes is more intense than in other places, now as in the past. In the medieval period hunters and falconers beat the countryside and returned home loaded with prey; at that time there were feasts and banquets in which everyone participated, nobles and people; the bravery and skill of the men were measured in jousting, while the women proved their skill in preparing tables with game and the generous local wine.
From the morning the boys and girls of Trescone, in the costumes of the Tuscan countryside of the nineteenth century, dance and sing accompanied by accordions, inviting everyone to participate in the party. Meanwhile, from Piazza Cavour, a procession made up of about one hundred and fifty figures with costumes inspired by those of the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century, studied down to the smallest detail and designed by prominent costume designers, parades through the streets of the town colored by the flags of the four Neighborhoods. The ringing of the trumpets and the rolling of the drums accompany the traditional tribute of the Quarters to the Lady of Fortezza, who together with the ladies of her court awaits the return of knights, pages and archers from the hunt under the loggia of the Town Hall.
From a view under the civic tower, which dominates the Piazza del Popolo, the auctioneer reads the document that formally declares the Sagra del Tordo open, while, in honor of the Lords of Fortezza, some thrushes are released in flight. The procession continues towards Piazza Garibaldi where, from the churchyard of the ancient, S.Egidio, the church of the Sienese in Montalcino, the blessing is given to the archers, real protagonists of the afternoon tournament. The figures then go up to the fourteenth-century fortress. At the four districts of Montalcino it is possible to taste the typical dishes and products: pappardelle with wild boar, pinci al sugo, bean soup, grilled meats, all accompanied by the famous wines of Montalcino.
In the afternoon the historical procession resumes towards the tournament field, rebuilt in the shadow of the fortress ramparts.This is the moment when the rivalries, the hopes, the antagonisms light up and the spotlight is put on the archers, two for each neighborhood , called, through a draw the previous day, to represent their colors on the field. The first four archers, one for each quarter, and then the second four, at the order of the Field Captain, shoot five arrows each in a succession of four series in which the distance and the score gradually increase; wins the district that, at the end of the competition, has scored the highest number of points with its archers.At the end of the competition the winning district collects a silver arrow from the Field Captain, a prize for the victory won, praising songs of joy and mockery of the other neighborhoods. The celebrations will go on throughout the winter and those who have lost will have to sing the songs and jokes of the winners.
The Sagra del Tordo therefore does not represent only historical re-enactment that becomes a show, but it is the expression of the way of being and of the social life of the people of Montalcino, who in these days relives, in a fantastic way, their past through heated antagonism. between the Borghetto, the Pianello, the Ruga and the Travaglio, between the four villages that, which arose a thousand years ago on the slopes of the hill, unified, gave rise to the city.
Festival program:
Saturday October 25 2014
11,00 Piazza del Popolo - Dance of the folkloric group IL TRESCONE from Montalcino;
11,30 am The procession moves from Piazza Cavour towards Piazza del Popolo;
12,00 Piazza del Popolo - Draw of the archers of the districts;
16,00 Piazza Cavour - Departure of the historical procession for the shooting range;
16,45 pm Shooting range - Provaccia of archery.
Sunday October 26 2014
From 9,00 am Dance of the folkloristic group IL TRESCONE of Montalcino through the city streets;
11,00 Town Hall - The procession of the ladies goes down to Piazza del Popolo;
11,15 am Piazza Cavour - Departure of the historical procession towards the Fortress;
11,30 Piazza del Popolo - The auctioneer announces the party and offer of gifts to the lords of Fortezza;
11,45 am Churchyard of the church of Sant'Egidio - Blessing of the archers;
12,00 Fortress - Greeting of the archers;
15,15 pm Piazza Cavour - Departure of the procession for the shooting range;
15,45 pm Shooting range - Archery tournament between the four districts of the city.
Tasting of typical Montalcino dishes at the stands of the Quattro Quartieri in the gardens of the Empire:
- Saturday from 12,30 to 20,00;
- Sunday from 9,00 to 20,00.
The party ends with the inevitable feast of thrushes on a spit washed down with Brunello and red wine from Montalcino. Appointment therefore for 25 and 26 October in Montalcino, and if you want more information, click here and have fun!
For more information:
Tourist Office of the Municipality of Montalcino
Pro Loco Montalcino Association
0577849331 tel / fax
Email: [email protected]
Travaglio neighborhood quartieretravaglio.it
Pianello neighborhood neighborhoodpianello.it
Ruga neighborhood quartiereruga.it
Borghetto neighborhood neighborhoodborghetto.com