Tuscany · Lucignano · festa
Maggiolata of Lucignano
Maggiolata Lucignanese
may· verify before attending
Lucignano's circular medieval streets host a parade of flower-covered allegorical floats on consecutive Sundays in May. Each of the town's quartieri builds a float around a yearly theme; the vehicles inch through the spiraled streets while costumed troupes sing maggi — traditional spring songs. The whole thing closes with a vote and a procession of the winning float.
NoteStreets are narrow; standing space along the parade is first-come. Café tables on Piazza del Tribunale book early.
Lucignano
68 km from Florence · pop. 3,383
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May 24·Massa Marittima· verify before attending
Crossbow Tournament (May)Balestro del Girifalco (maggio)
Held twice a year — fourth Sunday of May and second Sunday of August — Massa Marittima's three terzieri compete in medieval crossbow archery in front of the cathedral. Ten archers per terziere fixed-distance shots at a wooden falcon. Costume processions drum corps banner throwing fill the morning. The town has been hosting versions of this since the thirteenth century.
Jun 19 – 21·San Gimignano· verify before attending
Harvest Festival of San GimignanoFerie delle Messi
Each June San Gimignano's four quartieri reset the town to its medieval calendar for a long weekend. Costumed processions weave between the towers; archers and falconers compete in the piazze; banquets in each quartiere serve dishes pulled from medieval recipe books. The closing is a Cavalcade of the Knights — a real timed joust on horseback.
Jun·San Quirico d'Orcia· verify before attending
Barbarossa FestivalFesta del Barbarossa
Third weekend of June the four quarters of San Quirico d'Orcia stage a costumed reenactment of Frederick Barbarossa's 1155 visit. Daytime: a working medieval marketplace inside Horti Leonini; evening: archery contests between quarters and a torchlit procession from Collegiata to the rocca. The town stays in costume for three days.