The cheese. It is one of the many protagonists of the basket of Lucca, sheep milk cheese, goat cheese, dairy cheese .. typical products of tradition. Is produced for the most part in Garfagnana and from here marketed. But its use is not limited to its consumption. If I told you that cheese is sport, challenge, bet, aggregation? And not as regards its preparation, its consumption, its sale .. but .. its launch.
Yes, the launch of the cheese is a sport recognized by FIGeST (Italian federation of traditional sports and games); a very ancient sport and still practiced in some parts of Italy, including the Garfagnana. The roads and sports fields in some countries as Pieve Fosciana , Castiglione di Garfagnana, Borsigliana, Pian di Coreglia, Careggine, are home to improvised races, pali and numerous national competitions.
In Careggine Saturday, August 16, was held the sixth edition of the Palio’s throw cheese wheel within the event “Apuane in festa”. Four participating teams, all from neighboring localities, among which standed out, taking home the victory and the chesee wheel… 28 kg
On the road that leads to the gate of the village, about half a kilometer below, was marked the start line. From there, each team had to reach with the fewest number of throws the finish line at the entrance of the hamlet. The form, we said 28 kg in this case, is launched by the strong pitchers with the help of a strap that, wrapped around cheese, allows them to lift it over their shoulder and throw it after a short run.
As is tradition at the end of the race winners offer a glass of wine to the defeated and take home cheese wheel. If instead it is broken during the race viewers can enjoy it!
The races are divided into categories by regulation, depending on the weight of the cheese: light up to 1,500 kg, average light up to 3 kg, medium light up to 6,500, heavy up to 16 kg, maximum over 25. Races usually take place on country roads or special launching pads, like that of Gallicano, or Orzaglia or on the city pad, which is located along the river park, a short walk from the city walls of Lucca.
An exciting race, to be enjoyed until the last launch and.. beyond, if you have the good fortune to partake the tasting of the cheese wheel!