During the weekend of 15 August “ferragosto”, a bank holiday in Italy, Careggine, is filled with a festive atmosphere and scents alltraditional, characterizing each year “in the Apuan Feast“.
On Saturday, for the little ones “the Olympics of the young” have seen so many children engaged in various challenges such as running, the sack race, and the throw of the cheese wheel (size baby, of course) with the delight of some fans grandparents who dispensed the their grandchildren tricks and secrets to carry out a perfect throw.
In the afternoon, a musical show with typical dances performed by the folk group “The muffrina” of Camporgiano opened the 6th edition of the “Palio of the cheese wheel throw”. in the Palio faced four teams, who competed for the prize that was the tool of the challenge: a cheese wheel of 30 kg. Won the team of “Rione Capanne Isola Santa”, which first throwed the form over the ancient front door of the historic center. To wet your appetite in the meantime, the stand of necci with ricotta, and finally, all togheter to taste the cheese wheel offered by the winners.
In the evening all to dinner in the company of witches, “buffardelli and macconecci” who have served to the participants typical dishes of Garfagnana. Commemorations and ancient suggestions made the evening beautiful, thanks to the involvement of the public who, with frightful makeup and wigs (offered to all participants at the dinner), got involved in the magical atmosphere..
On Sunday many other activities for children such as the reconstruction of the “old farm” starring many animals of the place, and the opportunity to try out the games of yore, with the delight of the greatest that have so relived the emotions of yore..
Broad space to sport, with the trip to Mount Sumbra, ledded by the guides of the park “Alpi Apuane” and the guides CAI; moreover in the morning at Isola Santa started the race “11th trophy of town of careggine”, arriving at the finish in the main square of the village.
All roads in the village have been enlivened with people thanks to streets-markets selling local produce and the “road of the breads”, an exposition of different types of bread produced all along in that area, from the most common to those almost forgotten that remain alive thanks to the knowledge handed down by the elders bakers.
Then in the afternoon took place the exciting release of birds of prey: a harrier and a buzzard have regained their freedom after a period of convalescence, during that they were looked after by the center Lipu, and they have taken off in flight by the hands of braves volunteers children.
The Bosa is a farm recovery of all the more traditional crops some of them are in risk of extinction. in these two days It remained open for guided tours, giving visitors the opportunity to taste the typical polenta of formenton eight rows (a particular type of cob). Was free and open also the museum of the “fauna of yesterday and today”.
In short it is a party not to be missed, that unites tradition, the fertilizer inexhaustible of these lands, nature, which is the active background of this village, the people, that animates this beautiful hamlet, sports, milestones of each mountain environment and last but not least: gastronomy, which makes us rediscover the flavors, bearing wall of this beautiful area.
You can see all the photos of the event clicking HERE