Medieval Games - settembre, 2013

After a month without television, one is more open to new diversions. We discovered this when we found ourselves outside in our neighborhood watching men in tights racing on stilts and having wild wheelbarrow races.  The "Palio del Baradello" is a two week celebration of historical parades and traditional games that trace back to the early middle ages. There are five neighborhoods in Como that are represented by teams who compete in games and a final tug-of war.

Several of the events took place in the streets around the corner from us. There were elaborate costumes for the royalty and honor court who sat regally by the newsstand on the corner. The parade passed under the tower (Porta Torre) that was built in 1192.

When we were kids, we sometimes played Cowboys and Indians; here it seems the kids play in castles and are knights in training. The men of all ages seemed very comfortable walking around in tunics and tights. It is definitely a different kind of Autumn Sunday afternoon without NFL football.

The playground (above) in our neighborhood shares a wall with an 11th century church and has medieval walls on the other three sides.

Porta Torre