La Spezia: the second edition of “Spetialis. Festival della Spezia Antica” starts on Friday 27 September. Three days full of events dedicated to the Middle Ages.

The second edition of Specialis. Festival della Spezia Antica, the great historical reenactment event from the Middle Ages to the 19th century in La Spezia, strongly desired by the Peracchini Administration and promoted by the Cultural Services of the Municipality of La Spezia, which will take place during the days of Friday 27, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September with guided tours, parades, music, shows, dances, crafts, duels between fighters and workshops for adults and children.

The demonstration was presented yesterday morning at the Palazzo Civico by the Mayor of La Spezia Pierluigi Peracchini and the director of cultural services Rosanna Ghirri.

The Mayor of La Spezia, Pierluigi Peracchini, declares: “In recent years we have worked hard to rediscover our roots through the La Spezia Forte project. This festival, now in its second edition, is a real journey through history, with events, parades, guided tours and workshops. For three days, La Spezia relives its past, actively involving all the museum structures, with workshops designed for the little ones and special events for adults. With Spetialis, we re-embrace our past to face the future with greater awareness, because immersing ourselves in our roots is not only an act of memory, but the key to building a stronger and safer tomorrow”.

The second edition of Spetialis, a clear reference to one of the variants of the ancient name of La Spezia, strong in the huge success achieved in 2023, was strongly desired by the Peracchini Administration, re-proposing a three-day event even richer in events in the guise of a cultural festival immersed in the historic center and in the places of La Spezia culture specifically oriented to the valorization of the identity, the origins and the history of the City. The ambition is to repeat itself every year with different historical focuses, becoming in all respects an unmissable event in the calendar of events proposed during the year, also with a view to a deseasonalization.

With over thirty events, Spetialis, whose artistic direction is curated by Donatella Alessi and Giacomo Paolicchi, is a city ​​festival and for the city thanks to which you will go to rediscovery of the city's origins the most ancient, the historical corners, the ways of life of the past and some of the treasures preserved in the La Spezia Museums will be revealed.

The inauguration of Spetialis will take place Friday 27th September from 21pm to 23pm in the streets of the city center with a historical parade and shows where three different groups of reenactors in costume will participate, starting in Piazza Garibaldi and arriving in Piazza Verdi.

The events of September 28th and 29th are included in the program of “European Heritage Days”, promoted by the Council of Europe, with the theme “heritage on the move”.

In fact, the program for the second day, Saturday 28 September, includes a guided tour by reservation in the morning at the Civic Museum “Amedeo Lia” on the occasion of the exhibition “The art of travelling. Italy and the Grand Tour” entitled “Travelling. From the Middle Ages to the Modern Age” curated by Andrea Marmori. In the afternoon at the Civic Ethnographic Museum “Giovanni Podenzana”, in the historic center, through activities and workshops aimed at children, adults and families, you will be able to learn about and experiment with traditional crafts, knead and stamp croxetti, deepen your knowledge of edible herbs and create a herbarium, you will learn popular dances with live music from our tradition.

On the afternoon of Sunday 29th September, San Giorgio Castle will be the undisputed protagonist, coming to life from morning to night with reenactments, dances, workshops, activities and offering a snack and dinner in perfect medieval style. Not only that, there is a medieval reenactment planned where you can visit a military camp and experience life in the era with workshops for children and adults renewed from last year, demonstrations of craft activities and archery tests.

In the evening there will be the opportunity to enjoy the San Giorgio Castle terrace as if it were a banquet. Dishes inspired by medieval cuisine and following shows, dances, music and fireplace will conclude this journey into the past.

The events will therefore involve the entire city and the civic museums, taking place partly in the historic centre and partly inside the Civic Archaeological Museum of the San Giorgio Castle, the Civic Ethnographic Museum “Giovanni Podenzana” and the Civic Museum “Amedeo Lia”.

The activities in the Museums require the payment of an entrance ticket, while the procession can be admired for free.

Below is the program and all the information.

CITY CENTER
FRIDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
From 21pm to 23pm HISTORICAL PARADE

Departure from Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi and arrival in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi through Via del Prione, Via Giovanni Sforza, Piazza Sant'Agostino, Piazzetta del Bastione and Via del Torretto.

The procession is made up of members of the historical group Compagnia del Piagnaro of Pontremoli, of the contrada della Madonnina del Palio dei Micci of Querceta and of the Historical Group of Fivizzano.

Musicians, flag-wavers, dancers, fighters and extras will perform spectacular choreographies during the route that inaugurates Spetialis for a weekend in the past

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
European Heritage Day

AMEDEO LIA CIVIC MUSEUM
10.00 Guided tour by Andrea Marmori “On the road. From the Middle Ages to the Modern Age”

CIVIC ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM “GIOVANNI PODENZANA”
Pm at 15.00 20.00 Traditional arts and crafts

Exhibition, demonstrations and workshops by

-Pro Loco “Hands and Minds” Village of Piagnaro Pontremoli:
Davide Angella – Creation of old-time games, working with papier-mâché and recycled materials
Patrizia Capaccio – Creative Sewing
Elisa Caser – Natural colors and dyes, vegetable ointments based on beeswax
Clara Cavellini – Manual Spinning
Maria Pia Elia – Ceramic processing and decoration
Isabella Iardella – Tatting and macramé lace creation
Andreina Micheli – Dyeing wool with natural products and knitting
Sandra Passalacqua – Leather working, shoe making and bookbinding
Roberto Antonio Pietrafesa – Metalworking, Reproduction of Lanterns and Historical Coins

– “Beautiful things of the past”, Parish of Santa Maria Maddalena in Adelano di Zeri
Reproductions of the ancient folk costumes in use until the first decades of the twentieth century in the valleys of the mountainous territory of Zeri

– Andrea Varesi Liserio – Chair maker, last maker of Bratto sofas

From 16.00 pm to 20.00 pm Herbal laboratories
– “Erbando” – Recognition of edible wild herbs of the Ligurian tradition
Lella Canepa will take us to discover the wild herbs of the territory and their use in cooking. In Liguria, the edible wild herbs that have always grown in the territory are collected one by one in the meadows, between the dry stone walls and are processed to form the “Prebuggiun”, a basic dish for soups, fillings for savory pies, vegetable ravioli or a simple side dish.

– Maria Capellini – The Botanical Watercolor
The great sensitivity of the artist Maria Capellini will guide us in the creation of delicate watercolors inspired by nature and the plants of our territory: the light, the colors, the shapes and the consistencies will be immortalized on paper to create a work with which to embellish our bedroom.

– Silvia Nardi – A herbarium page
Our territory is rich in plant species used for centuries in traditional food and medicine. After having learned about them with Lella Canepa, painted them with Maria Capellini, we will take a specimen to keep on a herbarium page, noting everything we have learned.

– Samuela Raffaelli – Pasta molds
Let's discover the production of croxetti (or corzetti), a typical Ligurian pasta characterized by a decoration impressed with a special mold, and the traditional custom of stamping foods. Let's knead our own croxetti to take home.

– STEL – Lathe processing of moulds for corzetti, ravioli and spongate

15.30pm Traditional peasant cuisine
Demonstration for adults for the creation of a herb cake by Cinzia Angiolini
Torta d'erbi is a savory pie made with finely chopped wild herbs and seasonal vegetables, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, salt and parmesan or pecorino cheese, enclosed between two layers of water, salt and flour. Do you know how it is traditionally prepared? Let's find out together with Cinzia!

From 17.00 pm to 19.00 pm Dances from the woods to the sea
Dance workshop for children and adults by the association Lo stivale che balla
Passion, depth and fun are the basis of this workshop of traditional dances from the territories of Val di Vara, Lunigiana and Garfagnana (jigs, pivata, quadrilles, moresca, game dances...). Everyone can try, it is not necessary to be a dancer.

Live music with
Massimiliano Aquilino: string instruments and bagpipes
Carlo Amori: violin
Romana Barbui: diatonic accordion
Michele Cavenago: flute
Dance workshop by Michele Cavenago and Romana Barbui

SAN GIORGIO CASTLE MUSEUM
Sunday September 29
European Heritage Day

From 15.30pm to 20.00pm – Camp Life
I Von Neuberg Cultural Association
Sun and Steel Company of Arms
It will be possible to visit a military camp from the first half of the 300th century, philologically set up in the Castle park, as well as attend displays of arms by the camped militias.

From time to 15.30 17.30
There will be themed workshops for children and adults, demonstrations of medieval craft techniques and shows:

Colors and Light: We create a Gothic stained glass window
Valerio Simini and Stefania Martinico
Workshop on creating a “stained glass window” typical of Gothic churches with transparent colours and materials

The Tower and the Eagle
Donatella Alessi, Castle Museum, and Samuela Raffaelli
3D creation workshop of the ancient coat of arms of La Spezia

Let's get our hands on our bags!
Sara Lenzoni and Gianfranco Berghich
Let's build a purse, the small bag hanging from the belt used in the 300th century on clothes without pockets

The money of the Superb
Marco Greco
The minting of coins in the Middle Ages with the punch and hammer technique

Robin Hood and the Legend of Sherwood
Simone Grando and Marta Ragnoli
Did Robin Hood Really Exist? In search of the historical figure who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, the iconic Robin's feather hat will be made in the workshop.

Majolica from the nobles' table
Michelangelo Leoni and Naibì Aostri, ArteProgetto aps
Clay wheel working show and educational art workshop for children on medieval decoration

From time to 15.30 18.00
Medieval Archery Trials for Kids and Adults
Archers of the 3 villages: Varese Ligure, Levanto and Bonassola
Archers Company of Piagnaro

From time to 16.00 18.00
Life as a squire
I Von Neuberg Cultural Association
The children will face tests of courage and skill to be invested as knights.

From time to 15.30 17.30
The Hauberk's Bench
Sun and Steel Association
Exhibition of the workbench and the activity of the mailman, that is, the person who, in the Middle Ages, made chain mail

Starting at 15.30
Welcome to the Castle
Circotà
Street artists will welcome you at the entrance

From 16.00 pm to 19.30 pm The Angel and the Prophet
The Mementos Laugh
Traveling contact comic animation

From 16.00 pm to 18.00 pm
Surgeon's Bench
Sun and Steel Association
Demonstration of the modus operandi of a 13th century surgeon: description of the various surgical tools used, herbs, medicinal remedies, medical knowledge of the time. It will also be possible to witness the extraction of an arrow

From time to 16.00 17.00
Saltafossum Company
Music, puppet theatre, interaction, fire juggling are the characterising elements of this congregation of musicians and jesters from other times and other places.

From 17.00 pm to 18.00 pm Medieval dances
Company of the Piagnaro of Pontremoli
The ladies of the court will show the latest medieval dances and will teach the steps to the most daring who will try their hand at this noble art.

From 17.30pm to 19.30pm Sister Clarissa's Gold
Anna Rozzi
Brocade weaving demonstration

The snack counter is available in the afternoon
Tutti Frutti Association

From time to 18.00 18.30
By the skin of our teeth! – The evolution of the helmet from the 10th to the 14th century
I Von Neuberg Cultural Association
With the help of faithful reproductions, the history of four centuries of evolution of the protection for the warrior's head is retraced; possibility of trying on the various artefacts

From time to 18.00 18.30
Falconers' Show
Falconarius
Show with birds of prey (hawks, eagles and vultures)

From time to 18.30 19.00
ballista
Sun and Steel Association (High Park)
Siege Machine: Demonstration launches with our siege machine with the possibility of letting visitors try the release

From time to 19.00 19.30
Il mestiere delle armi
Sun and Steel
Piagnaro Company
Demonstration of fighting techniques from historical fencing treatises

From time to 20.00 21.30
MEDIEVAL BANQUET – on the lower terrace of the Castle
Tutti Frutti Association

From 20.00 pm to 21.00 pm on the lower terrace
Dances by the Compagnia del Piagnaro Pontremoli and music by Saltafossum

From 21.30pm to 22.30pm
Show on the high terrace
Saltafossum Company and Crow Woman
Music, puppet theatre, interaction, fire juggling are the characterising elements of this congregation of musicians and jesters from other times and other places.
The Last Firebender
Circotà
Fire-eating and fiery juggling show
Project curated by Donatella Alessi and Giacomo Paolicchi

Info
In case of rain the parade will not take place. The events in the Museums will take place inside the Museums with a reduced program

Civic Ethnographic Museum “Giovanni Podenzana”
Prione Street, 156 – La Spezia
tel. 0187.727781
museoetnografico.segreteria@comune.sp.it – etnografico.museilaspezia.it
www.facebook.com/museo.etnografico.sp; Ig @museoetnograficosp

Civic Museum of the Castle of San Giorgio
via XXVII marzo – La Spezia
tel. 0187.751142
museo.sangiorgio@comune.sp.it – museodelcastello.museilaspezia.it
www.facebook.com/museocastellosangiorgio; Ig @museocastellosangiorgio

Costs (tickets can be purchased at the Museums reception)
– Friday 27 September 21-23pm Free Historical Parade
– Saturday 28 September at 10am guided tour of the A. Lia museum €5.50
15-20pm Civic Ethnographic Museum “Giovanni Podenzana” €5.00
– Sunday 1 October 15.30pm-22.30pm Civic Museum of the Castle of San Giorgio €5.00
Cumulative ticket for Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September at the Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum €8.00.