Pistoia is preparing to kick off the celebrations in honor of San Giacomo the Greater, patron saint of the city. In fact, it is scheduled for Monday 1 July, starting from 7pm opening parade of the Jacobean celebrations. The procession will move from via Rome to reach the stadium through the city streets Melaniwhere the final of the District Tournament dfootball (senior category).
The path of thethe parade therefore, it involves starting from via Roma, then continuing along via Cavour, il Globo, via Buozzi, via Curtatone and Montanara, via Bozzi, piazza San Francesco, corso Gramsci, via dei Pappagalli, via dei Macelli and via dello Stadio, up to at the Melani stadium.
There parade will be divided into two sections: the part folklore is that historical. Many city sports clubs will participate in the first, lining up and parading with their own district; the historical section will see the figures of the city committee and the four districts (Cervo Bianco, Grifone, Leon d’Oro and Drago) cross the city together with the historical groups of the Pistoia province.
The procession will be opened by Municipal band of Pistoia, which will accompany the Banner of the Municipality and the city institutions. The figures of the four city districts, together with flag-wavers and drummers, in their medieval clothes will therefore liven up the streets of the centre. They will follow, in procession, some figures from the Compagnia dell’Orso, the Giostra dell’Orso citizen committee, the four historical districts and many historical groups in the area. It will close the Borgognoni Philharmonic.
Once at the Stadium, it will be possible to watch to the athletes’ performances of some sports associations.
«The Giostra dell’Orso is, for the city of Pistoia, a long-awaited, heartfelt moment of great importance – points out Alessandro SabellaCouncilor for Tourism and Celebrations Jacobean -. We celebrate our patron saint, San Giacomo, who is also the patron saint of pilgrims around the world, and who brings with him a journey that sees us committed to the theme of pilgrimages and the valorization of Pistoia, there “Santiago d’Italia”, as a crossroads of the paths. With great pleasure, in recent years we have noticed an approach to the Giostra by foreigners, so much so that the first requests this year come from tourists Spanish and Dutch. It’s getting stronger, so, also tourism linked to the interest in historical re-enactments. For all this, thanks go to the Ccommended citizen for the work carried out in collaboration with theTOadministration».
The banner 2024
This year the drapewhich on the evening of July 25th will go to the winning district of the Giostra 2024, was created by the Pistoia artist Anna Nigrowhich won for the second time (the first in 2019) the tender published by the Citizen Committee.
This is how the painter describes her work.
«The cloth in the central part depicts the allegory of San Jacopo the pilgrim, with a proud and determined look, a symbol of strength and perseverance on the journey of life. Referring to the traditional “dressing”, the Saint wears the red cloak that waves in the wind among the buildings of Piazza Duomo. Hanging around his neck he has a shell with a red Latin cross imprinted on it, symbol of the Camino de Santiago and in relation to the historical link between the cities of Pistoia and Santiago. The left hand on the heart is a sign of love and protection towards the city of Pistoia, while in the right hand the stick with colored ribbons denotes the celebrations and the union with the Giostra dell’Orso which takes place in the majestic square of Pistoia, depicted from the two historic buildings, the bell tower and the town hall. Above the town hall is the sculpture “Il Miracolo” by the Pistoia artist Marino Marini, located on the ground floor of the building.
In the foreground in the central part there are four knights wearing the jackets of the districts they belong to, all engaged in a wild race; each of them wields a spear. The horses, vigorous steeds, gallop with elegance and power, while the jockeys are concentrated and determined to hit the target. On the left side there is a target facing the knights which symbolizes “The Micco bear”, the heraldic symbol of Pistoia, accompanied by the red and white checkerboard coat of arms. The entire work is enriched by vivid and vibrant colors, which capture attention and transmit energy and vitality.»
A thanks goes to the artists who responded to the call and developed the other sketches, all of a high level, evaluated by the commission: Marco Fontani, Paola Imposimato, Elena Innocenti, Enrico Lulli, Monica Minucci, Luisa Scopigno.
The program of the Jacobean celebrations
As per tradition, the Jacobean celebrations include the “dressing” of San Jacob Tuesday July 16th, to continue with the trials of the Bear Carousel on 22 and 23 July. At 9pm on July 24th the procession that arrives from Piazza San Francesco to the Cathedral of San Zeno will be held. The city districts will parade with the four banners of the colors that distinguish them, carried on the wagon decorated with shields and rosettes.
At 9.30am on July 25th is scheduled procession of candles and the costume parade along the streets of the historic center. Solemn Vespers in the Cathedral at 5.30pm. Will follow historical procession with the figures in medieval clothes, the Banner of the Citizen Committee, the Company of the Bear and the jockeys who will participate in the Joust. The evening, at 9pmin Cathedral square will be staged there Bear Carousel. The race will be preceded by the costume parade, which will parade through the streets of the centre.
Purchase of tickets for the Giostra dell’Orso
The cost of tickets is 15 euros for seating and 10 euros for standing.
They can be purchased by sending an email to [email protected] and asking for availability (payment on Iban IT62V0306913830100000000706, SWIFT code BCITITMMXXX) and collecting the tickets from 16th to 25th July inclusive at the desk which is located in Piazza del Duomo, on the corner of Via Tomba di Catilina, from 9am to 12pm, 4pm to 7pm. The July 25th the ticket office will remain open until 10pm. To purchase seated tickets, availability must always be requested; it will also be possible to request the sector to which your district belongs.
Tickets can also be purchased directly at the desk in Piazza del Duomo until July 25th included. On the 25th the ticket office will remain open until 10pm; on the evenings of the rehearsals, Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd July, from 9pm to midnight in Piazza del Duomo, on the bell tower side.
