The 2024 edition of the May Day of Assisi is held from 8 to 11 May with the usual program spread over four days. The magistrate president of the Calendimaggio Authority Marco Tarquinio: “Long live the Calendimaggio, long live Assisi which is the heart of our land of Umbria and beats in a special way”. Virtus Maria Zallot, Claudio Autelli and Sandro Cappelletto will make up the jury of the Festival and decide who will win between the Magnifica Parte de Sotto and the Nobilissima Parte de Sopra.
(TurismoItaliaNews) The names of the Primavera Madonnas have finally been revealed – five per Party – among which the queen of Calendimaggio 2024 will be elected. In a small square of the Chiesa Nuova crowded with citizens and tourists, the Magnifica Parte de Sotto and the Nobilissima Parte de Sopra have presented their own Primavera Madonnas. They are Milena Bocchini, Chiara Fabbri, Matilde Fiorucci, Martina Santarelli and Maddalena Simonelli for the Parte de Sotto and Elisa Benvenuto, Viola Frascarelli, Caterina Roberti, Maria Sophia Sensi and Teresa Angelica Settimi for the Parte de Sopra.
Before the singing homage of the Singers of Assisi, who performed traditional songs of the Festival, the magistrate president of the Calendimaggio Authority said that “the Spring that we announced has arrived and we will see it in the faces of these young women. It is our May Day and it is up to me to say thank you and welcome you into your celebration and ours. A city is also, and above all, its emotions and its history. This celebration is joy and effort. Be proud, be strong, be loyal because this is our celebration. Long live Calendimaggio, long live Assisi which is the heart of our land of Umbria and beats in a special way”.
The mayor of Assisi was also present Stefania Proietti who recalled “Spring begins for us today. These girls are like Assisi, they are strength and youth. On behalf of the Administration, thanks to those who make this celebration possible, to the Magnifica Parte de Sotto, the Nobilissima Parte de Sopra and the Ente Calendimaggio. Let our party begin.”
“…E Vien Calendimaggio” continues on Wednesday 1st May with a double appointment in Piazza Santa Chiara. At 2.30 pm the show of the Balestrieri Company of Assisi while, at 5 pm, the performance of the Flag-waving Group of Assisi. The long march leading up to the Festival will end with the open scenes in costume in the alleys of the two Parties. The Magnifica Parte de Sotto begins on Monday 6 May at 9.30 pm, followed by the Nobilissima Parte de Sopra on Tuesday 7 May again at 9.30 pm.
The event starts on Wednesday 8 May with the blessing of the banners of Magnifica Parte de Sotto at 3pm, at the Upper Basilica of San Francesco, and of Nobilissima Parte de Sopra, at the Cathedral of San Rufino. At 3.45pm, with the ringing of the Laudi bell, the procession of the Calendimaggio organization departs from Piazza Santa Chiara and arrives in Piazza del Comune with the performance of the Curfew anthem by the choirs of the two Parties. Following this, Maestro de Campo Bruno Cianetti receives the keys to the city from the mayor of Assisi Stefania Proietti and assumes sovereign powers. Then the entrance of the Parte de Sopra and Parte de Sotto processions, the return of the Palio, the greeting of Marco Tarquinio, president-magistrate of the Calendimaggio Authority and the investiture of the jurors. The afternoon ends with the reading of the challenge notices, the exit of the processions along Corso Mazzini and Piazza Santa Chiara. At 9.30pm, in the alleys of Parte de Sotto, re-enactments of medieval life.
Thursday 9 May from 4pm is the day of “Madonna Primavera”, the queen of the Festival elected after the agility and skill tests between the protagonists of Magnifica and Nobilissima. The games of challenge between the parties are the Crossbowmen shooting competition, the tregge race (the ancient carts used to transport hay in the most inaccessible areas of the Assisi mountains) and the tug of war. In the evening, in the alleys of Parte de Sopra, re-enactments of medieval life. Friday 10 May is the day of “The Show”: from 4pm in Piazza del Comune the show of the Flag-wavers of Assisi will be held, followed by the Calendimaggio dei Piccoli. In a ‘reduced’ version of the Calendimaggio, the young partaioli from Sopra (winner of the last year’s edition) and de Sotto, compete in three games of strength and dexterity: rope and bag race (for children up to 10 years old) and treggia (for children up to 12 years old). Group of Flag-wavers of Assisi. In the evening, from 9.30pm, “La Tenzone”, with the ringing of the Laudi bell and the entrance of the evening processions with the spectacular fire games.
Finally, Saturday 11 May is the day of “La Sfida”: from 4pm, after the ringing of the Laudi bell, the entrance of the historical processions and the subsequent exit of the costumers in Corso Mazzini and Piazza Santa Chiara. In the evening, from 9.30pm , “Il Canto”, with the singing challenge after which the jurors will retire to decide the assignment of the Palio for this new edition of the Calendimaggio of Assisi 2024.
This year too, the Calendimaggio of Assisi will be streamed on the web channels of Umbria Webcam and the institutional website of the Calendimaggio Authority calendimaggiodiassisi.com. Subscriptions for the grandstand are already on sale on the Ticket Italia circuit with direct access from the official website of the Calendimaggio organisation.
