Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Significance of This Small Italian Town To The Case?
Posted by Peter Quennell
[click for larger image]
Bevagna, a little village about half an hour south of Perugia.
This is where the presiding judge for the trial Judge Giancarlo Massei comes from.
A quiet enough place for maybe 350 days of the year. But on those other few days, late in June, the most famous medieval festival in Italy, Mercato delle Gaite, takes place.
One description in Italian. A quick translation here.
The Mercato delle Gaite is the most important re-enactment of medieval life that takes place in Italy. The name is inspired by the division of Bevagna into four districts (gaite appunto).
Along the narrow streets and in the picturesque corners, the entire population of this charming town is trained in works of crafts, runs markets typical of the period, and operates taverns where you can taste dishes prepared according to the ancient medieval recipes.
The evocation is enhanced with shows, concerts, exhibitions and conferences, along with archery to cheer up the already lively evenings. Drawing inspiration from the practices described in ancient documents, medieval Bevagna evokes an atmosphere of crafts, sounds and movements largely forgotten today.
In the small shops there are are pastry makers, potters and blacksmiths and dyers, and other skilled craftsmen.
There are also banquets and races, and the medieval seminars sound like very serious stuff. There is not much about it in English but the festival does have a new Facebook page here.
It sounds like something that Meredith would have really enjoyed.
And below, here is one of the many YouTubes on the Mercato delle Gaite festival in Italian.
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