The origins of the festival of Calendimaggio are to be found among the ancient customs of many different peoples, but especially in the Roman celebrations known as the “Fasti di Maggio” and in the medieval tradition of celebrating the arrival of Spring in early May (Kalende di Maggio)
In Barga it is now always celebrated with the annual crossbow championship .
The Associazione Historica Lucense in Lucca have been organising these events in Barga since 2001.
Two years ago, in 2012 the event was cancelled because of the terrible weather and this year the rain once again looked as though it would play a negative role in the day as overcast clouds threatened on both sides of the valley but by midday it had still held off and the crossbow men and women continued to shoot up at the Duomo to the delight of the visitors to Barga who had arrived specially for the event.
From the archives: Calendimaggio |2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 |