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Joust
of the Bear
in Pistoia
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Pistoia
main information page)
Perhaps because
it's the heraldic symbol of the city of Pistoia that the bear
became the target of the joust that since 1922 has taken place
every year for the feast-day of the patron saint, Saint Jacopo.
Before the race there is parade of an historic court in costumes
from the 1400's of representatives from the four "rioni" (neighborhood
teams), that assume the name of one the ancient doors to the
city: the door of Saint Marco, or Gold Lion; the door of Borgo,
or Griffon; the Lucca door, or White Deer; and the Carratica
door, or Dragon. When the procession reaches the Piazza del
Duomo, the fantastic medieval stage for the joust, the bells
of the cathedral greet their arrival. After the reading of the
proclamation of the challenge the race takes place on a ring
of level ground and the contestants are horsemen from the four
"rioni" of the town. Two by two they run the track at the end
of which, lance in place, they must hit the target.
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Pistoia main
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