Pistoia, 1 July 2024 – The city is preparing to start the celebrations in honor of San Giacomo the Greater, patron saint of Pistoia. Late this afternoon, Monday, July 1st, starting from 7 pm, opening parade of the Jacobean celebrations. The procession will move from via Roma to reach, through the city streets, the Melani stadium, where at 9.30 pm the final of the football district tournament (seniors) between Cervo Bianco and Grifone will be held. The parade route The route starts from Via Roma, continuing along Via Cavour, the 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 the Melani stadium.
The parade will be divided into two sections: the folkloristic part and the historical one. Many city sports clubs will participate in the first, which will line up and they will parade 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 the Municipal Band of Pistoia, which will accompany the Banner of the Municipality and the city institutions. The figures of the four districts, together with flag-wavers and drummers, in their medieval clothes, will liven up the streets of the centre. They will follow, in the procession, some figures from the Compagnia dell’Orsoof the Giostra dell’Orso Citizens’ Committee, of the four historical districts and many historical groups of the territory. The Filarmonica Borgognoni will close. Once at the Stadium, it will be possible to attend the performances of the athletes of some sports associations.
“The Giostra dell’Orso is, for the city of Pistoia, a much-anticipated, heartfelt moment of great importance – he underlines Alessandro Sabella, councilor for tourism and Jacobean celebrations –. We celebrate our patron saint, San Giacomo, who is also the patron saint of pilgrims in the world, and who brings with him a path that sees us committed to the theme of pilgrimages and to the valorization of Pistoia, the “Santiago of Italy”, as a crossroads of 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 by Spanish and Dutch tourists. Tourism linked to interest in historical reenactments is being strengthened. For all this, thanks go to the Citizens’ Committee for the work carried out in collaboration with the administration”.
The Jacobean celebrations continue with the “dressing” of St. JacopoTuesday 16 July, to continue with the Giostra dell’Orso trials on 22 and 23 July. At 9 pm on 24 July the procession from Piazza San Francesco to the Cathedral of San Zeno. The districts will parade with the four gonfalons of the colors that distinguish them, carried on the cart decorated with shields and cockades. At 9:30 am on 25 July the procession of the candles and costume parade along the streets of the historic center. Solemn Vespers in the Cathedral at 5.30pm. The historical procession will follow 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. In the evening, at 9pm, in Piazza del Duomo, Giostra dell’Orso. The race will be preceded by the costume parade, which will parade through the streets of the centre.
