Woke this morning to the disconcerting sound of beating drums in the square. Fearing a modern version of il Duce's mob in response to the current absurd Italian Prime Minister-cum-sex-offender-racketeer-media mogul (Sr. Berluscconi,) I rushed to the balcony in my nightgown to see what the fracas was about.
Much to my surprise, rather than a mob of distressed citizens were instead, strutting through the Piazza to the beat of ten drums, numerous horns and a few tweeting piccolos, a full contingent of traditionally dressed Florentines with some sashed ministerial type in tow behind two enormous wreaths. After a slow and solemn trek across the square (if one can look solemn in bright yellow pantaloons, armour and a silly hat) Sr. Minister and the wreaths entered the Basillica through the seldom-opened main doors.
Probably the culmination of some Mardi-Gras type celebration, or maybe a recognition of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, or possibly just another random Sunday outing for the Firenze Medieval Reenactors. Whatever the occasion, the assembled musicians created quite a festive pageant. After what must have been a march around the contrado, they returned to exit again through the Piazza and off to what I suspect will be a rather "festive" lunch.
Later that same morning, after the Punch and Judy show packed up, a band of six jazz musicians playing a combination of dixie land, bossa nova and klezmer arrived to play a few sets. The weather is warmer, Lent is just around the corner and the Piazza is full of Sunday afternoon munchers, strollers and tourists. All in all, a wonderful way to live life.
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