May Day in Assisi in 2024 takes place from May 8 to 11, with the usual program spread over four days. The municipal president of the Calendimaggio office Marco Tarquinio: “Long live Calendimaggio, long live Assisi, which is the heart of our country of Umbria and beats in a special way”. Virtus Maria Zallot, Claudio Autelli and Sandro Cappelletto will make up the jury of the festival and decide the winner between Magnifica Parte de Sotto and Nobilissima Parte de Sopra.
The names of the Primavera Madonnas have finally been revealed – five per side – among which the Queen of Calendimaggio 2024 will be elected In the small square of the Chiesa Nuova crowded with citizens and tourists, the Magnifica Parte de Sotto and the Queen. Nobilissima Parte de Sopra presented their own Primavera Madonnas. They are Milena Bocchini, Chiara Fabbri, Matilde Fiorucci, Martina Santarelli and Maddalena Simonelli for Parte de Sotto and Elisa Benvenuto, Viola Frascarelli, Caterina Roberti, Maria Sophia Sensi and Teresa Angelica Settimi for Parte de Sopra.
Before a singing tribute by singers from Assisi who performed the traditional songs of the festival, the municipal president of the Calendimaggio office said that “the spring that we announced has come and we will see it in the faces of these young women. It’s our May Day and it’s up to me to thank you and welcome you to your celebration and ours. The city is also and above all its emotions and its history. This celebration is joy and effort. Be proud, be strong, be loyal, because this is our celebration. Long live Calendimaggio, long live Assisi, which is the heart of our land of Umbria and beats in a special way”.
The mayor of Assisi was also present Stefania Proietti who recalled: “Spring begins for us today. These girls are like Assisi, they are strength and youth. On behalf of the administration, I thank those who made this celebration possible, Magnifica Parte de Sotto, Nobilissima Parte de Sopra and Ente Calendimaggio. Let our party begin.”
“…E Vien Calendimaggio” continues on Wednesday 1 May with a double meeting in Piazza Santa Chiara. At 14:30 a performance by Compagnia Balestrieri di Assisi and at 17:00 a performance by Gruppo Bandieratori di Assisi. The long march leading to the Festival will end with open scenes in costumes in the aisles on both sides. The Magnifica Parte de Sotto begins on Monday, May 6 at 9:30 p.m., followed by the Nobilissima Parte de Sopra on Tuesday, May 7, also at 9:30 p.m.
The event begins on Wednesday, May 8, with the blessing of the Magnifica Parte de Sotto banners at 3:00 p.m. in the Upper Basilica of San Francesco and the Nobilissima Parte de Sopra in the Cathedral of San Rufino. At 15:45, to the ringing of the Laudi bell, the procession of the Calendimaggio organization departs from Piazza Santa Chiara and arrives at Piazza del Comune with the performance of the curfew anthem performed by the choirs of both parties. Afterwards, Maestro de Campo Bruno Cianetti receives the keys to the city from Assisi Mayor Stefanio Proietti and assumes sovereign powers. Then the entrance to the processions of the Parte de Sopra and Parte de Sotto, the return of the Palio, the greeting of Marco Tarquinio, the president-magistrate of the office of Calendimaggio, and the appointment of the judges. The afternoon ends with the reading of the announcement of the challenge, exiting the processions along Corso Mazzini and Piazza Santa Chiara. At 21:30, in the streets of Parte de Sotto, a reconstruction of medieval life.
Thursday, May 9 from 4 p.m. is the day of the “Madonna Primavera”, the queen of the festival chosen after tests of agility and skill between the protagonists Magnifica and Nobilissima. Challenges between the parties are a crossbow shooting competition, a tregge race (ancient carts used to transport hay in the most inaccessible areas of the Assisi mountains) and a tug of war. An evening in the streets of Parte de Sopra rediscovering medieval life. Friday 10 May is the day of “The Show”: from 16:00 there will be a parade of flag-waving from Assisi in the Piazza del Comune, followed by the Calendimaggio dei Piccoli in a “reduced” version of the Calendimaggio, for the young partaioli of Sopra (winner last year’s) and de Sotto, compete in three games of strength and agility: rope and bag race (for children under 10) and treggia (for children under 12 Group). waving Assisi flags Evening from 21:30 “La Tenzone” with the ringing of the Laudi bell and entering the evening parades with spectacular fireworks.
Finally, Saturday 11 May is the day of “La Sfida”: from 4:00 p.m., after the ringing of the Laudi bell, the entrance of the historical processions and the subsequent exit of customers to Corso Mazzini and Piazza Santa Chiara. from 21:30 “Il Canto” with a singing challenge, after which the judges leave to decide on the allocation of the Palia for this new edition of the Calendimaggio of Assisi 2024.
Also this year, the Calendimaggio of Assisi will be streamed on the Umbria Webcam web channels and on the institutional website of the Calendimaggio office calendimaggiodiassisi.com. Tribune subscriptions are already on sale at the Ticket Italia circuit with direct access from the official website of the Calendimaggio organization.