The Historical Parade
The Historical Parade of about one hundred and fifty figurants, in costumes inspired by those of the early 15th century, parades through the town decked with the coloured flags of the four Districts. The figurants represent the most important institutions of old Montalcino, as stated in the reformed town charter dated 1415.
Every year, Montalcino is also represented among the “monture” (mounts) of the Historical Parade of the Palio di Siena with four archers and the Vessillifero (standard bearer) carrying the emblem of the city.
Complete order of the Historical Parade
The parade is opened by the Drum Majors and the Town Crier. They are followed by the drums, their relentless rhythm setting the pace of the entire parade, together with the ringing of the clarion trumpets and the deep tone of the horns. Next come the standard of the Town of Montalcino escorted by the war hammers, the standard bearer with the Balzana, the emblem of the Republic of Siena, and the castellans accompanied by Armoured Halberdiers.
Mace
Town Crier
Drum Majors
Drums
Trumpets
Horns
War hammers
Standard of the Town
War hammers
Standard bearer with the Balzana
Castellan
Castellan
Armoured Halberdiers
The parade continues with the Podestà (Captain of the People) with his squire and the Lady of the Podestà, accompanied by Maids. They are followed by two Pages carrying the trophy, symbol of the contest, and four young maids.
Squire
Podestà: Captain of the People
Lady of the Podestà
Maids
Pages
Young maids
Then come the representatives of the three terzieri, the three districts into which the old town of Montalcino was historically divided, with their Priors: Sant’Angelo, Sant’Egidio and San Salvatore, followed by the Officer of the Guard and the Crossbowmen.
S.Angelo
S.Egidio
S.Salvatore
S.Salvatore Priors
S.Egidio Priors
S.Angelo Priors
Officer of the Guard
Crossbowmen
Next in line are the arts and crafts, testimony to the town’s economic and productive vitality: cup-makers and potters, leather-workers, blacksmiths, woodworkers, haberdashers, wool merchants, apothecaries and notaries, preceded by the Courtier of the Arts.
Courtier of the Arts
Cup-makers and potters
Leather-workers
blacksmiths
Woodworkers
Haberdashers
Wool merchants
Apothecaries
Notaries
The important institutions of the Spedale di Santa Maria della Croce and the Abbey of Sant’Antimo are represented by the Rector of the old Spedale and the Abbot of the age-old Abbey, accompanied by their standard-bearers.
Standard S.Croce Hospital
Rector of Hospital S.Croce
Banner of S.Antimo
Abbot of Sant'Antimo
Monks
They are followed by the banner of Camigliano Castle, the mayors and their ladies representing the ancient local villas: La Croce, Frassina, Santa Restituta, Collodi, San Piero d’Asso and Tolli.
Banner of Camigliano Castle
Villa La Croce
Villa Frassina
Villa Santa Restituta
Villa Collodi
Villa San Piero d'Asso
Villa Tolli
Then it is the turn of the figurants of the Districts, followed by the Magistrate’s Rector, the Field Captain and his assistants, who supervise the unfolding of the Archery Tournament.
Next come the hunters with their Rector and scorekeepers, followed by the archers and the Captains of the archers of the four Districts, the protagonists of the Archery Tournament.
Figurants of the Districts
Magistrate's Rector
Field Captain and his assistants
Assistants
Rector of the hunters
Hunters
Scoreboard
Archers and captain of the archers of the Quarters
The parade is closed by the master of ceremonies, with four ceremonial famuli to oversee the progress of the Parade and four halberdiers without armour.
Master of ceremonies
Ceremonial famuli
