Montemurlo Historical Parade
The Historical Parade of Montemurlo might seem like just a Renaissance festival, actually it is an exciting journey through time, a fascinating throwback to a crucial chapter of Tuscan history: the Battle of Montemurlo on 2nd August 1537.
On that fateful day, brave Florentine republican exiles, bravely led by Baccio Valori and Filippo Strozzi, powerful families with residences in the hills of Montemurlo, fought against the imposing army of Cosimo I de' Medici, an army of 10,000 soldiers including knights , infantrymen and mercenaries. Despite the strenuous resistance of the exiles, who defended themselves fiercely in the fortress, the Medici troops ultimately prevailed and the castle was tragically engulfed in flames, forcing the defenders to surrender.
That historic battle marked the beginning of the unification of Tuscany under the rule of the Medici. The Parade is not only a commemoration of a moment of war, but a vibrant tribute to an event that opened the doors to peace throughout the region.
The culmination of this extraordinary festival is represented by the grand parade of historical groups in the picturesque hamlet of Oste, usually scheduled for the last Sunday of June. But the celebrations span a wider period, with irresistible side events in the previous days. Among these, the sumptuous Renaissance banquet at the Fortress stands out, where dishes of the time and fire shows take guests into the atmosphere of the time, together with flag-wavers and ancient dances. Then there is the Ruzzola of circles and barrels, an ancient tradition that dates back to the 16th century, when the young people of the town competed in exciting challenges with rolling circles and barrels.
The historical re-enactment culminates with the evocative symbolic handing over of the castle key into the hands of the Mayor, a sign that keeps alive the memory of those historic days and the pride of preserving tradition in the heart of the town hall, all year round. An unmissable event that joins past and present in a fascinating embrace.