Don't Stress, Come Join the Party
For those of you who are new to the Balestro, you may want to do a little homework and read my previous blog post about the first one we attended. I just reread it myself and it was quite thorough, if I do say so myself. Hopefully Sofia was happy with my recollection of the details. You can read about it here.
This Balestro was the first summer one we've attended. And, like most summer events in Massa, it was held at night.
Everything is a little more dramatic at night, don't you think?
This year, we headed straight for the square to find a good spot. From our original vantage point, Ira took this photo showing the crowd that had already gathered before the arrival of the parade and crossbow participants.
But we didn't stay there for long. Sofia found us, and we headed over to her family's favorite vantage point, directly behind the shooters, where the rest of her family had already gathered.
From there, Ira took this video just as the parade was arriving.
The competition was about to begin!
The first order of business was to install the corniolo, or target. This is the job of the Maestro d'Armi (Master of Arms).
He also happens to be Alberto's father.
After all 24 balestrieri had taken their shots, the crowd dispersed into the square. We went off in search of some cold water, and by the time we returned, the winner had already been announced.
That was quick!
A shooter from Borgo was the winner! They get to claim the Palio--the large, hand-painted silk banner--and the bragging rights all the way until May of 2027.
The party would go on for hours, but not for us. We were headed back to our car and our little house in the countryside.
Ira is not going to miss having to drive everywhere. He's really looking forward to living back in the square.
But there is one thing about living in the country: you definitely appreciate the storms more acutely. It feels like there's nothing between you and the elements.
Take a look at this thunderstorm we had recently.
It was like a strobe light!
Thunder and lighting aside, the rain was welcome. It's been so hot here since the beginning of June, and the green of the countryside is starting to look more brown and crispy. So, although a thunderstorm isn't as good as a nice, soft soaking rain, it's better than nothing.
On the bright side, though, it's fig season!
Our friends Giulia and David came over with their son, Damiano. They brought us the most delicious fresh figs and some ricotta to pair with them.
So simple.
So good!
Ira is officially a new fan.
We both were already thinking we'd have to look for more the next time we stopped at our favorite fruit and vegetable stand.
And we weren't disappointed.
Late August is prime time for both the green and purple figs.
It is also the time of year for the local neighborhood festivals. And this year, we were invited to Borgo's Festa di San Rocco, the patron saint of the Terziere di Borgo.
And since their balestriere had won the Balestro just a few days earlier, the neighborhood had even more to celebrate.
It was our first time to see the winning arrow and the victorious Palio up close and on display.
I later found out that the Palio was painted by the Tuscan artist Lara Androvandi. The woman depicted in the center is a symbolic representation of a proud Italian woman voting for the very first time in 1946.
The artwork was commissioned to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the birth of the Italian Republic.
You'd never know it from this photo, but this is an actual road through town.
So, if you need to drive this way, you're out of luck.
You might as well find parking somewhere else and join the party.
And that pretty much sums up life here.
Don't stress. Come join the party.
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