I'm going to start this by stating that Amelia knows how to throw a party. They have it down to a science. Take this stage for instance. They erected this stage in the piazza across the street from my apartment for entertainment throughout the two week festival.
Their attention to detail carries over to the Palio. The Palio is when the 5 different contradas get together to compete. There are three forms of main competition (there may be a fourth, but I don't remember). 1) Music, meaning the music while they are processing at noon on the hottest day of the year in WOOL costumes from the top of Amelia to the soccer fields out of the wall. 2) Jousting/Horse racing 3) Archery and then the winner of the overall competition.
This is the beginning of the procession. We waited near the Chalet (in the shade) for them to come down.
More drummers! Each contrada (there are 5) has a drum group and Amelia overall has a drum group, so 6 groups.
That's the banner you get when you win.
I want to make a family banner!
The kids get involved too!
The people that participate as dressed actors have to get together 3 hours before the parade begins to get their hair, make-up, shoes, costumes, etc. perfect!
They close down the streets for this (obviously) and there are a good chunk of riders on horseback.
Amelia and the fields.
Drummers on the left, the flags on the right indicate the track (the flags represent each of the contradas).
This is where the archers shoot from.
On the right is where the archers shoot to. If they hit the target perfectly they release a pigeon.
Drums :-) CRUX BURGI!
The APCA shield in the bottom left corner has two arms, the jousters have to hit their correct "arm" while racing their horses to win the match.
The flag throwers.
Ahhh... Amelia at twilight.
The flag throwers are quite amazing.
Up!
Up and over to another thrower.
One flag up, one spin on the ground.
Here is one of the horses coming around the corner.
Unfortunately one of the horses hit the hay right below. Both rider and horse were fine, but it was pretty scary. These horses run at full speed.
At night the Amelia drummers march with their hoods up, it's creepy but cool.
Crux Burgi won the overall competition!! :-) YAY!!!
The beautiful Porta Romana.
Ciao, ciao!!
