Apertura
delle Cacce
The
Opening of the Hunt Festival
The
first archery tournament for the year is held in summer, the second weekend
of August. The archers train all year and at Apertura they test
their skills as a forerunner to the Sagra del Tordo which is held in
October.
Apertura, however, holds special significance for the village citizens because although it is not as well known, much of the weekend’s activity takes place within the territory of each Quartiere, and passions run high in the days running up to Apertura.
This
festival is not as grand a spectacle as La Sagra, but it is filled with
pageantry and colour, and it is equally as passionate for the four
Quartiere and their archers. The events take place both on Saturday and
Sunday, culminating in a historical pageant and thrilling archery
tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Village
Neighbourhoods
There
are four neighbourhoods of Montalcino. They are called Quartiere, and
their names are: Pianello Travaglio Ruga and Borghetto.
Each Quartiere has its own territory inside the walls of the
village, its own headquarters, its own emblem and flag, its own colours,
and a team of archers.
The
Banditore reads the Proclamation
Dressed
in colourful 14th century medieval costume, the Banditore,
riding on horseback and accompanied by two knaves, must bring the news to
each Quartiere that each is required to test the skills of their archers
at the Apertura tournament. At the front of the procession, the ancient
crest of Montalcino is born aloft, and the Banditore and his men ride
behind. At the rear, three rows of trumpeters and drummers herald the
warning as they wind between the stone houses. The trumpets and drums echo
between the buildings and, reaching the heart of Pianello and then the
other Quartiere, the Banditore reads from a scroll commanding Pianello to
be present at the tournament.
Dinner
for the Archers
An
emotional street dinner takes place in the heart of each Quartiere. In
Pianello, some two hundred people sit along Via Moglio under the emblems
and flags of our Quartiere, and, enjoying a delicious dinner prepared by
our Quartiere cooks, we sing and chant, encouraging our archers to
victory.
The
Pageant
Dressed
in 14th century medieval costumes, representatives of the noble families
and Magistrates of
the Comune of Montalcino and the four Quartiere, parade through the
village to the Piazza, then to the Church of Sant Egidio for the blessing,
and finally arrive at the archery range below the ancient fortress.
The
Archery Tournament
The
silver trumpets rise and the drums beat as excitement reaches fever pitch.
The archery range is ready, the judges are ready, the pageant has arrived,
and now the archers must test their skills. Two archers from each Quartiere contest the
honour of being the most accurate, bravest archers of Montalcino. Two
archers will bring glory and honour to their Quartiere.
The
Victory
The winning archers and their supporters make their way, chanting and singing, back to their Quartiere to ring the victory bells.
The excitement of this moving festival features in my book…
Vanilla
Beans & Brodo
Real
Life in the Hills of Tuscany