I've just been looking around and have found
this site
about the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna.
Has anyone ever been? Is it a total zoo like the Palio or more managable?
We will be in Perugia from the 15th til the 19th so we could actually go!

Any thoughts?

jan

{title clarified, at jan's request}

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jonathan,

There has been MUCH confusion concerning the dates of this year's Festival: While the Bella Umbria site lists June 12-22, the official Festival site, lists June 15-29. I assume the latter is correct.

No, this Festival is not a "total zoo" - not at all. I find it to be the best Festival, not only of its kind but of many types of festivals, in Italy. There is so much to enjoy.

Mary
www.geniuslociumbria.com
www.slowtrav.com/blog/maryt

Jan, I went a few years ago. It's a lovely festival, very low key. People dress in costume, there are booths of traditional foods and crafts, demonstrations of jousting, parades, music, etc.

I found this site:
official site

So, the only day we could go would be 15th of June.

Is that "banquet" something we can attend. Need advance tickets?

Thanks,
jan

Yes, advance tickets and lots of fun. Outdoors, costumes, good food and medieval ambience.
Mary

We went in 2005 and it was a wonderful find. Bevagna is a tiny town within walls. The town opens up many medieval buildings just for the event. Be sure to find the building with the live silk worms spinning silk and see the actual making of fabric. The fair also has blacksmiths making chain mail and other items. Very authentic re-creation of a medieval fair.

Jan, we also went to the Mercato delle Gaite in Bevagna in 2005. We were there the last day of the festival. It was wonderful. The entire village was presented as a medieval village and the residents (even small children) assumed medieval personas and occupations. Anything that didn't fit was curtained off. Some people looked absolutely authentic, and I read somewhere that they perfected their roles/appearance and medieval skills over many years.

I believe that there was some element of neighborhood competition too, and each neighborhood had a banquet area. (Our timing was off-- plus it was the last day with some special activities-- so we did not do a meal.) Each neighborhood showcased one medieval art, so you could see printmaking, ropemaking, basketweaving etc. all as they would have been done way back when.

We had been told about the festival by the owner of our rental house and went over on that Sunday afternoon-- we had just arrived the day before for a two-week stay in Umbria. We really felt like we had stumbled into something very special. I would say to anyone thinking of going-- absolutely go!

Kathy

According to the official site schedule, the only day we would be there will be June 15th--the rest doesn't begin until the next week.

Mary--will it be all set up on that day?

jan

Anyone know the answer?

If we were to go on June 15 for the banquet would we see the real festival? And how far in advance do we need the tickets. Whre do you get them?

jan

Mary, approximately how long would the drive there be from Greve? Of course, I could look it up but maybe you know more than Mappy, etc. Thanks.