Travel back to the Middle Ages this weekend! Starting tonight at around 6:30pm, the celebrations for the Ferie delle Messi, or Harvest Festival, will take off in Piazza Duomo in San Gimignano and continue all weekend.
A medieval fair is the setting for the local tradition of celebrating knights as well as a good harvest for the fall. It is a weekend of celebration, where the four contrade of the town come together and compete against each other in a tug of war on Saturday and a joust tournament on Sunday.
There are dances, other competitions between the ladies, shows of falconry, exhibitions by flag throwers, and stands where you can buy handmade crafts and local foods and eat meals in a tavern, set up all in the setting of the Middle Ages that fit so well with medieval San Gimignano. The whole populace participates in costume. Head up to the fortress to see the military camp set up.
The medieval market is set up in Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza delle Erbe from Saturday and Sunday from 10am through 8pm while the main events take place between Piazza del Duomo and the Fortress of Montestaffoli.
Read more about the Harvest Festival on our site here but also check out the specifics of the weekend’s program here.
Ferie delle Messi – San Gimignano
June 13- 14 -15, 2014
Events start at 6:30pm on Friday, end around 8-9pm on Sunday
Free entrance
Photo credit: Guido Frazzini
About Lourdes Flores
An American living in Florence for over 10 years, Lourdes continues to explore and discover new places in Tuscany with the eyes of a tourist but with the experience of living in Italy. She shares her experiences on this blog and website, particularly offering lots of travel planning help on the Forum!
