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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Enjoying and celebrating life is an art form in Italy!

June 15, 2021 by Melissa Muldoon 1 Comment

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Photo Stock

Celebrate like
the Italians do!

In Italian you say “facciamo festa!”

In Italy there are so many festivals and celebrations… the Italians really know how to throw a party!


Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Photo Stock
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: The Florentine

Italian cities throughout Italy celebrate civil and religious festivals, historical re-enactments, local festivals, and events particularly linked to a city or country. If you love Italy, you already know this.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Palio di Siena, Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Photo Stock
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
The Battle of the Oranges in Ivrea, Art of Loving Italy, Deposit Photos

There are so many unusual events, street fairs, and competitions! There is the Palio di Siena and the Palio della rana in Fermignano. In Ivrea, in northern Italy, oranges are thrown at each other (as is done) to evoke a medieval rivalry between lords and commoners.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Carnival in Venice Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Stock

In Venice they wear masks, run around and play jokes during the carnival … remember at carnival: every joke is valid (anything goes)! To welcome spring, in Assisi, the whole town dresses up in colorful costumes and parades around the city celebrating Calendimaggio.

Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Stock

I could continue listing sagras and saint celebrations for days! If you were to look at an Italian calendar, you would see that there is a colorful event almost every day in some small town in any corner of the country. Not only are these festivals plentiful, but they are heartily embraced by the locals who dress up in costumes, prepare mountains of food and play music to celebrate everything from pigs, bears, frogs, goats, cheese, flowers, mushrooms, garlic, potatoes, and, or every saint in the bible and beyond. In Italy, even the trees get hitched… not to mention the paying a ceremony that marries boats to the sea.

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Truffle Festival in Alba, Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Stock
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Ferragosto in Locorotondo, Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Stock
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Rificolona Celebration of the Virgin in Florence, Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Stock
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Sagra della Prochetta in San Savino, Art of Loving Italy, Adobe Stock

I have attended many of these “feste” in Italy, including the truffle sagra in Alba and Ferragosto in Locorotondo and Lecce. I’ve carried paper lanterns during the Rificolona festival of the virgin in Florence and eaten my fair share of the roasted pig during the porchetta sagra in San Savino.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Art of Loving Italy, La Giostra del Saracino — The Joust in Arezzo

I’ve happily danced and eaten my way through many local street fairs and festivals (except the sagra of liver — that one I skipped)… but the one event that stands out above them all, at least for me, is the Giostra del Saracino that occurs in Arezzo twice a year in June and September.

The first time I witnessed the joust in Arezzo I fell in love with it and the city!


Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

All I can say is… you should definitely
experience the Saracen joust in Arezzo
to appreciate and understand it well.

I encourage you to do it! You should dive into the events that happen in Arezzo during the week of the carousel to really understand the soul of Arezzo and what makes the town tick.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Giostra in Arezzo

Living in Arezzo during the Giostra Saracino
is the most immersive experience
I have ever encountered in Italy.

The Giostra di Arezzo dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a knightly tournament that takes place in Piazza Grande and there is evidence that it already existed at the beginning of the 13th century. In fact, Dante speaks of the carousel in his songs! The joust was born partly as a military exercise for the Crusades, with a target dummy representing the infidel, and partly as a chivalrous game.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Giostra in Arezzo

Arezzo is usually a quiet hilltop town, but in June and September, it comes alive with friendly neighborhood rivalry, colorful flags, waving banners, and colorful costumes. Each district has distinct colors, and each person who lives in that part of the city proudly wears its colors: Santo Spirito (Blue and Yellow), Porta Sant’Andrea (Green and White), Porta Crucifera (Red and Green), Porta of the Forum (Crimson and Yellow).

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Photo Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

A week in advance of the joust, music can be heard thumping through the streets way into the wee hours of the night as each neighborhood celebrates its heroes—the knights who compete for the Lancia d’oro concedendosi.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

The excitement in the city increases during the week and reaches a climax the night before the carousel in the neighborhood’s Propitiatory Dinner. Each of the four neighborhoods hosts a large outdoor banquet where grilled food is served. During the dinner, the fans of the neighborhood inspire and encourage their jousters. There are speeches and words of thanks… music and dancing. What’s more, there are songs and chants that spontaneously explode during the meal, and you can’t help but get caught up in the frenzy of joyful and positive emotions.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

On the day of the joust, canons are fired to mark the time before the crowd is allowed into Piazza Grande to take their seats to watch the event. The city’s herald rides through the town on horseback, inviting all to take part in the event. Behind him, march colorfully dressed soldiers, and townsfolk representing each of the four neighborhoods,  and the noble ancient families of the town. Behind them come the musicians, the drummers, and the flag throwers.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

Last but not least are the jousters themselves, all decked out in costume riding their beautiful horses.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

To get you up to speed as to what actually happens during Arezzo’s joust… here is the skinny. Each neighborhood has two jousters who train year-round on horseback trying to hit a target with heavy wooden spears. During the actual event held in Piazza Grande, the jousters walk a sloping path called the “lizza” and try to mark the center of the target held in the hand of a swinging dummy at the end of the track. The figurine is called the “buratto” and represents the Saracen intruder that the ancient Aretini trained to reject.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

During the competition, the points are accumulated by the jouster when he hits a target divided into nine sections held by the buratto. Still, the outcome of the competition is uncertain until the very last moment of the tournament because of sudden changes in luck that may happen. For instance, if the lance breaks after hitting the Saracen, the score may be doubled, whereas dropping the lance will result in zero points. Points are also lost by a jouster going too slow, or too fast as they risk being whipped by the cat-of-nine-tails that the buratto holds as he swings around on his swiveled perch.

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

After the joust is over and the winner is declared, the members of the winning neighborhood rush to the top of the Arezzo hill and into the cathedral – San Donato. The jousters also arrive, on their horses, and it is there that the Golden Lance, the much-coveted prize of the day, is given to them. More singing, dancing, and merriment unfold as the winning neighborhood celebrates its victory all night long!

I love Arezzo’s joust so much and
try to attend every year.


Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

Don’t you want to experience Arezzo joust
and fully immerse yourselves in Italian life
and learn the language??

I would like very much to share this incredible experience with you and that is why I have designed my Italian language immersion programs in Arezzo when the joust takes place in June or September. This year I’m going back and you are invited to come with me. To reserve a spot click on the button below.

If you’d like information about the

2021 Arezzo Italian Language Program Click here

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra
Image Credit: Giostra in Arezzo, Art of Loving Italy

Let’s get back to learning in Italy.
Let’s get back to the joust! Let’s celebrate together.

By the way, if you want to learn more about the joust, you can read the novel I wrote that is set in Arezzo called: “Waking Isabella.” It’s available on Amazon in print, audio, and ebook. You can read it in English or the Italian version—“Il risveglio di Isabella.”

Italian-Festivals-Celebrating-Art-Form-Arezzo-Joust-Giostra

If you like to see more images of Arezzo’s joust and listen to this post in Italian click on the Youtube Video link below. Transcripts in Italian are available on the Studentessa Matta blog. Just click the button below!

Find the Italian Version of this post on the

Studentessa Matta Blog with Transcriptions

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Filed Under: Culture, Festivals, Music, Literature Tagged With: Giostra Saracino, Italian Festivals, Italian Holidays, Italian Life, Italian Sagras, Joust Arezzo

Reader Interactions

Commenti - Comments

  1. margery holdsworth says

    June 22, 2021 at 4:05 am

    I attended the Saracens Joust festival a few years ago – a fabulous day I’ll never forget also the Wine Festival in Greve in Chianti. How fabulous they both were and reading your article and seeong the photos in your blog brought it all rushing back – made me feel quite emotional
    Friends own a home near Montipulciano so it’s a wonderful place from which to discover Tuscany and also Umbria, which I love too. I’m a Brit now living in Toronto Canada and hope the world of travel opens up again soon. Thanks for your blogs, books etc: I am enjoying them ..🌻🌻

    Reply

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My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and Eleonora… the heroines of my four novels set in Italy.

Escape to Italy in the pages of a novel!

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. 

Available on Amazon in Print, Epub, and Audio. Links in bio.

5 Stars - Dianne Hales (author of La Bella Lingua, La Passione, and Mona Lisa-A Life Discovered): A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine, Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th–century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historical figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel. Still, the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating. 
 
5 Stars - Lize Amazon Reader: What a lovely story! Melissa weaves the lives of 4 women across time, all with some connection to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 16th-century Italy painter. They represent the feminine strength that arises from life challenges, each with unique intelligence. Underlying their stories is the idea that love transcends all, even time; love is timeless. As with her other books, Melissa fills the story out with interesting facts and references to Italian life, culture, and its history; her attention to detail is immaculate. I loved the many connections in this story that tied it all together; very cleverly done. Wonderful read; I would highly recommend it.

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Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. Sono c Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. 

Sono contenta che mi stia seguendo qui su Instagram!

I’m pleased you are following me on Instagram. I help you to learn Italian.

I organize, with my partner schools in Italy, small group language immersion programs in Arezzo, Lucca and Montepulciano.

For 10 or 12 days, you will study at the school at your level in the mornings and in the afternoons we will participate in activities and go on excursions— like make pasta, drink wine, talk to local artisans and see churches, museums, art —even the giostra del Saracino - the jousting festival if you join me in Arezzo.

Accommodations and most evening meals are all included AND you will have unlimited conversation practice and language learning when you meet my Italian friends and teachers from the schools who will accompany us.

The dates for 2023 Matta Italian Language Programs are

2023 Matta and Arezzo Italian Language Program: June 11 - 23

2023 Matta and Lucca Italian Language Program: August 24 - Sept 2
 
2023 Matta September Arezzo Joust Weekend: September 2 - 4, 2023 (Open to Italian learners and English speakers) 

2023 Matta and Montepulciano Italian Language Program: September 10 - 22

Join me in Italy 2023 and take your Italian language skills further.

More information and to sign up can be found on the StudentessaMatta.com website

Alla prossima! Ciao!

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Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian i Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian idiomatic expressions involving frogs and toads.

New post on the StudentessaMatta.com blog site.

Today I'm talking about lively idioms that practically jump up and down. These idiomatic expressions involve frogs and toads and will surely put a spring in your step and make you jump a level up. Want to sound like a native Italian speaker? Here is a chance to brush up on some Italian idioms involving our little web-footed friends.

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Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Prett Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Pretty Woman the Musical" at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. ( His Christmas gift to me this year!) We had so much fun! Began the evening with drinks at the Otopia rooftop bar to watch the sunset, then dinner at Acre 41. The show was fantastic, well staged, great singing — just a lot of fun to watch live theater again! #prettywomanthemusical #austintexas #bassconcerthall #theater
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In her guest post Alessandra tells us about Livorno and more about herself and her background. Alessandra has traveled extensively and made homestays in America so she knows what it’s like to be away from home and how important it is to find a warm and friendly environment that makes you feel comfortable as a family or among friends.

Find out more about the Italian Language Homestay opportunities offered on the StudentessaMatta.com website : See links in Bio.

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Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema ital Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema italiano è scomparsa. È successo ieri, Mercoledì 18 gennaio. La diva italiana aveva 95 anni. 

Più ricordata come un modello e attrice - una vera bomba, molto sexy e seducente, Gina Lollobrigida era una donna di talenti incredibili che comprendeva tutte le arti - cinema, fotografia e scultore. 

Leggi il nuovo post su StudentessaMatta.com

#studentessamatta #GinaLollobrigida #Lollo #ItalianCinema #ItalianFilmStar #attriceitaliana✨👑🎬🎥
Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vici Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vicina di casa ha fatto marmellata in casa e mi ha dato un vasetto! Oggi l'ho spalmata sul mio toast! Il gusto è veramente ottimo! Grazie Brianna!

#marmellata #vasetto #vincina #dolce #italiano

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