Observed Around the World: A Fair in Tuscany

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  • One of the three piazzas is given over to working demonstrations of skills that were a part of everyday life during past centuries.

  • The procession of the contrade through the streets of San Gimignano, through the Piazza del Cisterna to the Piazza Duomo.

  • The procession of the contrade through the streets of San Gimignano, through the Piazza del Cisterna to the Piazza Duomo.

  • A gathering of village dignitaries and townspeople on the steps of the Duomo or cathedral.

  • erhaps everything in the medieval festival is not as it was 700 years ago as women probably were not squires to knights.  The blue colors on the squire and horse are for the Contrada di San Giovanni.

  • A braiding contest? It was done centuries ago. Four women from each contrada compete to braid three lines of cloth the fastest. The colors they are wearing represent their particular contrada.

  • A braiding contest? It was done centuries ago. Four women from each contrada compete to braid three lines of cloth the fastest. The colors they are wearing represent their particular contrada.

  • They sounded as good as they look, drummers and trumpeters in the Piazza Duomo.

  • Dancers represent their contrade in the Piazza Duomo after dark.

  • Dancers represent their contrade in the Piazza Duomo after dark.

  • Several hundred spectators watch the dancing competition from the steps of the Duomo in the Piazza Duomo.

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