Festa del Barbarossa
Folklore
The Middle Ages in San Quirico d’Orcia
From June 17 to June 21, the allure of all things medieval reaches San Quirico d’Orcia with the Festa del Barbarossa. This festival involves the reenactment of a pivotal moment to have occurred in 1155 when Frederick I of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, known as Barbarossa, camped in these lands to meet Papal envoys sent by Pope Adrian IV. The agreement sealed here called for the surrender of the heretic Arnaldo da Brescia in exchange for the imperial coronation in Rome.
This geopolitical pact changed the fate of Italian municipalities.
The event re-enacts those solemn days with an evocative historical procession, igniting competition among the 4 districts: Borgo (white and black), Canneti (white and blue), Castello (white and red) and Prato (white and green) celebrating the ancient identity and military skills of the time.
Masterful flag-wavers and archery champions will compete in breathtaking contests.
