Rievocazione storica

The historic re-enactment centres around the figure of Maximilian I of Habsburg. The entire city centre is decorated with enormous colourful banners representing the coat of arms of the Gorizia noble lineages. The magnificent re-enactment begins at 3:00pm with a long procession of circa four hundred participants in period costumes who parade through the streets. The regal nobility, chivalrous knights, amusing jesters and lively commoners accompany the emperor’s carriage to the sports grounds. Upon arrival, a tournament is held where international groups specialized in the use of swords and lances compete: the Espadrones of Bratislava and the Dominik of Prague faithfully reconstruct the knightly tournament as it was during the times of Maximilian I. The event also features the Lansquenet soldiers (a military corps created by the Emperor) as well as fencers from the Friuli Venezia Giulia School of Fencing who display their skills in duels and battles. There are also the flag-wavers who perform their choreographic flag-whirling for the public. At 5:30pm the tournaments are briefly suspended for the reading of the Imperial Edict (the original edict is kept in Cormons Town Hall), afterwards the tournament is resumed. In addition to all these exciting events a mirthful atmosphere is re-created with characteristic open-air markets and boisterous taverns as they once used to be in the late 1400s.