Evening star., 1938-07-10
PAGEANTRY0 OLD
LIVES IN ITALY
Pa|io High Lights August.
Summer Brings Co|orfuI
Religious Fetes.

ROME. July 9.-During July and
August Italy will provide for its hum
dreds of thousands OF visitors ancient
and medieval pageantry that can
hardly be matched anywhere else in
the world.
The Oldest horse race, run on July
g. will be presented again August l6 in
the public square. No need to travel
out to suburban race track when the
Palio is run. The public square, with
its cobblestones for turf, may be hard
on the horses. but it is fine for the
spectators. Vast grandstands are built
on the paths to hold the thousands of
citizens and visitors who come not only
from all over Europe, but from North
and South America to see the medieval
trappings Of the riders and the hurly-
burly Of the race around the square.
This has occurred twice annually since
1859.
Unlike other horse races on earth,
the horses are not racers bred and
trained for the event, but the regular
wagon and work nags of Siena. The
real thrill Of the race is its pageantry,
for the horses and the riders are all
gorgeous with medieval costumes
standard bearers in glittering uniforms
ana coats OF mail, groomS eScorting in
chariots the city officials who are in
the race procession, and the Palio. or
banner prize, carried in a chariot
drawn by oxen
After the procession around the
square the race beings, all riders on
oare-backed steeds, and the square has
10 be run three times at a breakneck
pace to complete the race. After the
prize is awarded the vast crowd gathers
IN side street for feasting and merry
making. which lasts far into the night.
Fireworks Honor Saint.
One of the chief religious festivals,
full OF pageantry. held every summer
IN Italy, centers in the life Of St.
Rosalie On July Is at Palermo in
Sicily the visitor will not only see her
honored by picturesque street process
sions. but will find the whole populace
wild with the excitement of races and
fireworks displays, Among the other
religious pageants which Americans
plan to see this summer are the. fete
OF the Madonna Of Carmine at Naples
July is. when again vast crowds of
people throng the streets and SQUARES.
dancing. singing and noisy with Old
World revelry, always helped out with
fireworks.
At Florence on the same dav oc-
ours the Fete of San Rocco. with its
ancient historical procession, races and
flower festival. At Venice on July II
occurs the Festival of the Redeemer.
one OF the most picturesque pageants
that can be seen in that city which
more than any other seems created
for pageants On August pilgrims
will wind their way to Rome to see
the Festival Of Our Lady of the Snow.
Joust Recalls Knighthood.
Probably the most gorgeous of all
1taly's pageants in August is the
famous Saracens Joust at Arezzo,
which occurs this year on August 7.
Knights in shining armor will recall
to the minds Of the thousands Of
spectators every thought they have
had of the days of the Crusades when
Knighthood was in flower. The event
consists Of historic pageant recon-
structed from a traditional sport
reminiscent Of an incident during the
Crusades. Even Dante referred to this
celebration: "On thy plains, Arezzo
have I seen clashing tournaments and
fitting jousts." The sport consists in
fitting at large figure with
Saracen's head bearing a shield on it's
left arm and on its right heavily
weighted ropes. 1t is 50 constructed
that the least touch on the shield sends
the figure swinging round to deal a
blow at its assailant with the weighted
ropes, and the victor is the knight
who succeeds in dealing most blows
with his lance upon the shield while
remaining on his horse unharmed by
the Saracen