Sunday we thought a local day with no driving, on the advice of our patron we headed the ten minutes to Cortona, a walled Etruscan town overlooking our new home. There was the promise of one of those events which in this case origins go back before 1000 AD, there have been several parts to it including flag waving competition, medieval banquet and reenactment of the 1397 wedding of Francesco Casali and Antonia Salimbeni which was considered in these parts to be a big deal. Everybody dresses in clothes from the ancient past, the five Quintiere each have their own colours, Peccioberardi, S. Andrea, S. Marco Poggio, S. Maria and S. Vincenzo.

Cortona is a magical little walled town sitting atop of a hill, full of charm and history. We parked just outside the wall and walked to the centre, and when I say walked it was more of a punishing exercise, the gradient was about the same as our driveway but about fifty time longer so when we got to the top dolce and coffee were in order.

The weather was predicted to be warm and sunny with chance of several thunderstorms, at this stage it was sunny so we had a look around and enjoyed a Sunday morning stroll looking at all the new old things. Around 10am there was some crossbow practise which attended until the rain came and everybody packed up, so did we. In and out of little shops to keep dry then Mr Sun took his hat off and all was lovely again. Found a local bar overlooking the wall and sat there enjoying Campari and Proseco.........

The cross bowing was not due to start till 4pm so there was some time to kill, canvas hunting and admiring the scenery, the weather was still threatening but was staying reasonable. Lunchtime came and we found a little bijou cafe part way down the slope we had walked up from the car, no too far down I might add. As this was the Baked Bean Tour I availed myself of some Italian beans with pork sausages, so the theme continues! The weather then decided to go mental while we were eating, lighting, thunder, torrential rain and hail, it was a source of entertainment for the patrons of the cafe , all taking photos with their phones, yes me included, the results you can see in the first rain video.

It stopped eventually and there was over two hours to go till kick off or bolt off perhaps! So it was more sightseeing and canvas hunting. With an hour to go we made our way to the central piazza to get a good spot for the camera. Rain was intermittent till about twenty minutes to go, then we got a thunderstorm, not wanting to lose our good spot we stayed at our post while all around headed for doorways, there was a NZ couple and a single man who stayed with but they succumbed after fifteen minutes or so and there we were like shags on a rock the only mad buggers standing in the middle of severe weather.

Four came and went then around five the weather cleared and proceedings commenced, it did live up to expectations, colourful, grand and good fun. Started with a music troupe, then the grand entrance of the Quintieres in all their costumes. Interspersed with flag waving and throwing was the serious business of the day, and believe me it is taken very seriously. Each team of two dart shooters or Balestrieri has two shots making a total of four attempts. The Balestrieri is not allowed to touch the bolt which must be placed onto the bow by a companion, he or she has two minute to step up to the shooting position and take the shot, the target is a small cube marked into four sections giving scores of one to four, miss the cube and you get minus points. Two magistrates oversee the scoring and their decision is final.

Excitement mounts of course with cheering and clapping as Balestrier come and go, there is also a dismayed atmosphere if a shooter puts in a bad score or misses completely although there was only one of those. Eventually it's over and father and daughter team of Leo and Carla Falomi from Peccioberardi are the winners, this is the third year in a row they have won, so more cheering and music and the day is done.

We were glad we persevered with the weather as the whole thing was a great experience to have taken part in. Tomorrow more canvas hunting in Perugia and Assisi.

We're standing in the rain....

Shooting stand and target 20 metres apart

Checking the scores at the end of a round

Balestiere from S. Vincenzo

Day 17 - Crossbows in Cortona eventually.....