MASSA MARITTIMA – From the Tuscany Region a contribution from 25 thousand euros for the organization of the Balestro del Girifalco and for the census and candle ceremony.
It is the third consecutive year that the Municipality of Massa Marittima reaches the top of line 1 of the regional tender for the support of historical re-enactments in Tuscany, obtaining a high score on the co-planning, presented together with the Società dei Terzieri Massetani, relating to the Balestro del Girifalco and at the candle ceremony.
This year, a total of 17 projects on line 1 were presented to the Tuscany Region. And of these, the top ten classified received the contribution. Massa Marittima was awarded second place with just one point behind the first place which is the Municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino. The highest funding is reserved for the top two.
“It is a great result and a source of pride for the Municipality of Massa Marittima and for the Society of Terzieri Massetani – comments the deputy mayor Maurizio Giovannetti, councilor for Balestro del Girifalco –. Definitely news that allows us to close in the best possible way the beautiful chapter of the New Year’s Eve of the Annunciation in Massa Marittima, which was a memorable event for our small town and for the world of historical re-enactments in Tuscany. The Balestro del Girifalco is part of our identity, a heritage of the history of Massa Marittima. The resources of the Tuscany Region are fundamental to help territories like ours to keep this type of event alive. We therefore thank the Region which is doing a great job in defense of historical re-enactments, both through regional law and through the provision of contributions and the annual organization of the New Year’s Eve of the Annunciation”.
“The announcement from the Tuscany Region – underlines the mayor Marcello Giuntini – it is the first experiment in Italy of applying the shared administration model with the third sector on historical re-enactments. The Municipality of Massa Marittima, thanks to the excellent work of our offices, has accepted the challenge of co-planning by participating in the tender since the first edition of 2021 with concrete and tangible results, which allow us to contribute to the protection of the Girifalco Balestro and to invest to promote it as best as possible for tourism purposes, enhancing and making the city of Massa Marittima and its territory known through historical re-enactments.”
In the meantime, the call published by the Municipality of Massa Marittima for artists to paint the Palio of the 128th Balestro del Girifalco which will take place in Massa Marittima on May 26th is still open. The theme to be represented pictorially in this edition of Balestro is the “700th anniversary of the Ark of San Cerbone, built by Goro di Gregorio in 1324”. The white marble ark, which is preserved inside the Cathedral of San Cerbone, is characterized by reliefs that narrate with meticulous care the details of the life of the city’s patron saint.
Each painter will be able to participate with a single sketch which must reach the protocol office of the Municipality of Massa Marittima no later than 12pm on 17 April 2024.
