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Le
Feste Medievali di Offagna
as
“La
Contesa della Crescia”
“Le Feste Medievali di Offagna”
were first organized 20 years ago propelled by the wish
for a revival of ancient medieval traditions through history and
exhibitions, culture and traditions. The festival was anciently called
“La Contesa della Crescia”.
The Pro Loco and a Scientific Panel which organized it founded a
Cultural Centre called Accademia della Crescia. The target is
“promoting, coordinating and making research on subjects concerning the
cultural and social development especially of those men living the
Medieval and Renaissance times.”
Le Feste Medievali di Offagna are
really successful as Offagna is enclosed by a medieval well preserved
fortress that much suits historical festivals. Furthermore the organizing
panel pays much attention to the detailed reconstructions of environments
and Medieval every day life scenes such as the show of period dresses that
are entirely produced by tailors and dress makers in Offagna.
Among the settings that are
revived there is the Market of arts
and crafts (Mercato delle Arti e dei Mestieri), where potters,
woodworkers, mosaic workers, weavers, tailors, basket makers, paper makers,
painters operate.
Then there are the Prophetic Arts
(Arti Profetiche), where fortune-tellers, astrologists can be seen at
work. Each neighbourhood has then its own Taverna,
where characteristic food and wine is served together with stories told by
minstrels and storytellers. Visitors are often involved in work shop for
children and adults and in ability games.
Each edition of the Feste has had
a different theme every year since 1990. At the time it was the “Prophetic Arts”, (Le Arti
Profetiche) this year it is “Town
of vision and Dream” (Paese di
Visione e Sogno).
All the shows, performances, meetings with famous scholars develop around
this theme. Gastronomy and historical dishes culminate in the Medieval
Dinner (Cena Medievale) and in the challenge of the four
neighbourhoods of the village (Croce, San Bernardino, Sacramento and
Torrione). The awarding neighbourhood will see its flag waving on top of
the fortress for a year.
Le Feste Medievali di Offagna will
be held from 21 to 28 July. The theme of this year is about the period
that followed the pestilences that caused uncertainty and shakiness in the
soul of men. They started to wonder whether they should believe in the
traditional values such as chivalry and faith or if they should go ahead
and ground new beliefs and knowledge on the past.
©
2007
Liberation Ventures Ltd.
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