Montecchio is a village in Tuscany on the road between Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona. As a village, you’d drive through it without noticing it, but up on a hill behind is a medieval castle that opens its doors once a year in September for a medieval pageant lasting two days. It’s a very local affair, attracting people from all over the surrounding area. As well as the main players such as members of the procession, knights, maidens, flag throwers, trumpters etc, there are stall-holders also dressed up in medieval costume preparing traditional doughs as well as the ubiquitous pastas.
This beautiful maiden was part of the main procession that wound its way up from outside the castle and through the grounds, passing trumpeters blowing fanfares, and culminating in a formal ceremony prior to jousts and flag throwing. The wonderful thing about Tuscany is that when the people dress up in the costumes of 500 years ago, they are look like they have stepped out of a renaissance fresco – all the facial features are there.
Canon 1DMkII with Canon 70-200mm f2.8 lens at 190mm; ISO 200 f4.5 1/500
