I know it shouldn't happen like this, I ought to know what's going on, but every so often you visit a town by chance in the Summer, and you get an immediate sense that something is about to happen. Call it intuition, a sixth sense, or maybe it's just because a couple of thousand locals in medieval costumes are marching up the street towards you with drums beating, dragging ludicrously large cannons to the main square.
The festas here are great, and they just keep on relentlessly throughout July and August and even into September. Each one has its own historical charm and, more importantly, each one is taken quite seriously by the participants, even those given the minor supporting roles of 'common soldier' or 'wench'.
So we found ourselves in Citta della Pieve, wondering again what was going on. But this occasion seemed a little different from the others, something was definitely building up, and the mood in the crowd was quite excitable, there were chants and taunts towards the other groups of the town and all three; Castello, Casalino and Borgo Centro were definitely going to meet at the top for something.
We began to see people in the crowd putting plastic bags on their heads, some covering up their mouths and noses with their bandiere (normally tied around their necks) and others with cameras putting them in plastic bags too.
Then it began, the 'infarinata'.
In the middle of the 'infarinata'
From out of nowhere, hundreds, perhaps thousands of bags of flour suddenly came flying through the air from all directions, landing and exploding with some force all around the square. It was absolute chaos and mayhem. Everyone was at it, for about 15 minutes, until one of the groups, Castello, who had arrived in an enormous wooden castle for the fight, seemed to claim victory over the others, and the weary flour covered soldiers and wenches began to dissipate.
The Castello Terziere claim victory
But that wasn't the end of it, because that's the cue for the crowd to get stuck in, and so hundreds more people then ran into the square and took up the fight, this time with anyone and everyone.
The stupidest thing I did today;
Well, this was also my cue. I have always fancied myself as an intrepid war reporter type, so as soon as the small children began to scoop up the last bits of flour from unexploded bags, I finally emerged from my hiding place in a shop doorway and tried to take some dramatic shots. Suddenly realising why the other photographers had plastic bags over their cameras, I once again retreated to my shop doorway. Sorry.
wowowow...
how super that you were there
during the flour*wars!
:-)
if only all battles
could be fought this way...
wait
wait WAIT
this was NOT a war
but a celebration
of life
and love of pizza and pasta!
never mind about the war part...
still
if only...............
Posted by: somepinkflowers | September 22, 2008 at 02:24 PM
..."and then Amanda scooped up enough flour to go home and bake cake".
That's the part you forgot, right? haha
Great photos!
Posted by: maryann | September 21, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Oh my! Sounds like that tomato fiesta in Pamplona every year, love the piccies
Posted by: Brit' Gal Sarah | September 20, 2008 at 05:24 AM
great photos and post. I feel like I'm there seeing it with my own eyes.
Posted by: nyc/carribean ragazza | September 18, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Hey there' one would think that it may take a few years before you become the intrepid photo hound of Festa's di jour.Next time round you'll be better prepared plastic clear bags in pant pockets at the ready. Able to photograph all matter of flying flour , sauce, grapes, tomatoes etc. Just being there I'm sure was a hoot and a holler to see.
Posted by: Antonina | September 17, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Your photos are fantastic! Really they are. I have never heard of this festa before. How internesting to have seen (experienced) it!
Posted by: Leanne in Italy | September 17, 2008 at 05:06 PM
*cough cough* OK now where's the big frying pan full of last year's olive oil now that everyone is infarinata'ed?
Posted by: Michelle | Bleeding Espresso | September 17, 2008 at 02:50 PM
You're right. It shouldn't happen like that, but it does. You did make me smile because it rang so true. When it does, isn't just the best bonus to what was going to be a simple visit to a town?
(Loved the pictures too. It was worth ruining the camera for those.)
Posted by: casalba | September 17, 2008 at 10:20 AM
this has to be one of my most favorite photo stories you've done... AMAZING photos. What an event! I'm so sad to miss all the summer festivals...
Posted by: erin :: the olive notes | September 17, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Cannot take in the photographs on this Post!!! Sorry but they deserve an award. Love every single one...wish I could do that ;)
Posted by: Sophie | September 16, 2008 at 11:32 PM