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The Carnival of Mea in Bibbiena is profoundly linked to local history. Visitors and natives are sure to enjoy its festivities and great traditional fare that re-evoke the town’s dramatic war-torn history and a 14th-century siege where Bibbiena became central to a local power-struggle. In order to prove their disdain for their Florentine enemies, locals of the Castentino area organized months of feasts, singing festivals and dances.
To show the astonished Florentine besiegers just how many victuals they had, Casentino locals would launch whole sacks of grain and pieces of meat from the top of their city walls. In this dramatic period, a bard from Bibbiena was inspired to compose the ‘Canzone della Mea’ a lovely madrigal-of-sorts that was played, sung and danced as a strategy to keep the Florentines from continuing their sieges. And perhaps they would have succeeded had it not been for the presence of a traitor.
Today, citizens of Bibbiena’s two districts (Fondaccini and Piazzolini) organize feasts throughout the city, parading the streets on Marti Gras. They perform ancient songs and, in the afternoon, the eldest Fondaccino lights a fire, burning a juniper bush called the ‘bello pomo’ and the festivities continue, featuring a packed program including singing, dancing and banquets.
To show the astonished Florentine besiegers just how many victuals they had, Casentino locals would launch whole sacks of grain and pieces of meat from the top of their city walls. In this dramatic period, a bard from Bibbiena was inspired to compose the ‘Canzone della Mea’ a lovely madrigal-of-sorts that was played, sung and danced as a strategy to keep the Florentines from continuing their sieges. And perhaps they would have succeeded had it not been for the presence of a traitor.
Today, citizens of Bibbiena’s two districts (Fondaccini and Piazzolini) organize feasts throughout the city, parading the streets on Marti Gras. They perform ancient songs and, in the afternoon, the eldest Fondaccino lights a fire, burning a juniper bush called the ‘bello pomo’ and the festivities continue, featuring a packed program including singing, dancing and banquets.
