Once again the faithful were gathered on high … 1500 metres above sea level to be precise at San Pellegrino ìn Alpe for the annual Motomessa – the Motorbike Mass. Now in its 11th season and getting more popular each year, the Motomessa drew in thousands of riders from all over Tuscany and beyond making it the largest motorcyle event in this area. Last year it was a Honda Gold Wing which carried the priest down the line of waiting bikes blessing them with holy water but this year the iron steed was a chopped Harley Davidson (we wait for the MotoGuzzi to get its chance – maybe next year?)

The mountain air today was rent with the sound of thousands of motorbikes roaring off back down the mountainside leaving the place once more at peace until next year.

Il prete del paese ha fatto la benedizione alle moto scegliendone una da quelle presenti e, da passeggero, ha sfilato lungo tutta la strada gremita di moto, centauri, centaure e passeggeri e ha spruzzato con l’acqua benedetta più di un migliaio di persone

A contingent from the Barga Vespa Club were in evidence plus a group from Barga with a small mounted moped engine which when normally running produces long flames and very satisfying loud bangs from the exhaust when made to backfire, much to the delight of the gathered crowd but this year produced only smoke, a lot of noise and a couple of whimpers. They blamed the 1000 metere difference between Barga and San Pellegrino on the no show.

More images from the Motomessa at San Pellegrino by the barganews award winning photographer O’Connor can be found here and also images from 2005 are here