The particular link between the Christian religion and the Palio di Legnano
Legnano – A special night on Friday 7 June for the ninth edition – the second in Legnano – entitled “The Long Night of the Churches”.
It is a’national initiative organized by the Vatican Dicastery of Culture. We could call it the great white night dedicated to the city’s places of worship, as theaters of fusion between culture, art and music in a key of reflection and spirituality.
Legnano also did not miss the call and in the year of the centenary of the proclamation of the city wanted to make it even more suggestive.
“The churches were set up as during the investiture ceremonies of the respective Contrade which, for the 2024 edition, have decided to further enrich the visitor experience with the presence of theambassador objector an object considered significant in the definition of their own identity and an exceptional display of objects used according to ceremonies, to closely understand these peculiar celebrations, dedicated to the “legitimation” of the figures designated to lead the Contrada, which most highlight the link between religious faith and paliesca” – the organizers highlighted of the event.
From 8.00 pm until 1.00 am the citizens of Legnano and beyond had the opportunity to see up close a priceless historical heritage and of cultural historical identity.
The tour enlivened by the friendliness and welcome of the Contrada Ciceroni was also an opportunity to discover the peculiar bond that unites the Christian religion to the Legnano Palio. The event was accessible with free entry into the eight churches of the Contrada through guided tours thanks also to the collaboration with the University of Milan Bicocca and the course “Tourism and Cultural Heritage” organized by the professor Rita Capurro. A night of great emotions crossing the threshold of the various churches between anecdotes and curiosities linked to the ambassadorial objects and the history that characterizes the life of Contrada 365 days a year.
The underlying theme of the 2024 edition was a word which sounds like an invitation: “Find me !”. An invitation that was intended to be an answer to the question posed in the previous edition, that is “Where are you?”.
In a dramatic epochal moment, permeated by hatred and war, lacking in meaning for everything that happens around us, there must be a strong push, an exhortative invitation. This invitation can be read in terms of reflection, stopping for a moment, observing how the beauty of the things that surround us has the ability to make us rediscover the most important things in life, respect and memory to build a better world every day.
Ambassadorial objects that tell of a special journey into the “long night of the Churches”
Contrada La Flora, Church of the Holy Martyrs Anauniani Via Venezia 2, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the bread
Musical meditations with the “Canticle of the Creatures” performed on the guitar by Giacomo Centonze
Contrada Legnarello, Church of the Santissimo Redentore Via Barbara Melzi 27, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the Grand Lady’s Crown
Musical meditations with choral compositions by Gabriel Fauré performed by the Philomela Choir directed by Maestro Giorgio Radaelli
Contrada San Bernardino, Church of San Bernardino Cascina San Bernardino 1, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the San Bernardino Tablet
Musical meditations with music by Bréval, Marcello, Vivaldi, Bach, Saint-Saen, Eccles performed on the cello by Rebecca Cosili
Contrada San Domenico, Church of San Domenico Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi 92, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the crown of the Castellana
Musical meditations with music by Bach, Parry, Boellmann, Franck performed on the organ by Maestro Alberto Marco Tirrito
Contrada San Magno, Basilica of San Magno, Piazza San Magno 10, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the Processional Cross
Contrada San Martino, Church of San Martino Via San Martino 27, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the Hourglass
Musical meditations with music by Boisdeffre, Behr, Delibes, Kjui performed by Davide Cervi (cello), Monica Ruggeri (flute) and Costantino Gigi (organ)
Contrada Sant’AmbrogioSanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie Via San Giovanni Bosco, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the Embroidery with Saint Ambrose
Musical meditations with music by Pachelbel, Händel, Zipoli, Bach, Schumann, Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms performed on the organ by Matteo Gobbo and Cristina Venturini
Contrada Sant’Erasmo, Church of Sant’Erasmo Via Cesare Candiani 1, Legnano
Ambassador Item: the Keys of the Grand Prior
Musical meditations with music taken from the Ambrosian Psalter (Liturgy of the Hours) performed by the Choir of the Parish of San Pietro in Canazza in Legnano
Michela Manzotti
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Michela Manzotti
Legnanese, a degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures. He loves to write, read, observe, listen, understand what happens and witness it. A journalist, by collaborating with Sempione News he can give expression to his passion for reporting with an eye always behind the curtain.
