Maritime Republics, the historical regatta returns to Amalfi

(by Ida Bini) On May 18th Amalfi hosts the Seventieth edition of the Regatta of the Ancient Republics Marinare, a historical reenactment that takes place in rotation every year in the four cities, queens of the seas - Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice - to recall the glories and the most significant events lived in the Middle Ages. For Amalfi, that of the Regatta is from always a special event: in addition to offering a dive into the past, it is also an extraordinary cultural and sporting event, involving four galleons, champions and young people for several days promises of Italian rowing. It starts on Thursday, May 15th, with an exhibition dedicated to the celebratory posters of the 70 editions of the event, a collection that reconstructs the history of the Palio rowing through the visual arts. There are also planned conferences with the presence of scholars from the four cities, around the role of the Maritime Republics. The program is complete Saturday, May 17, with the women's galleon race and with the presentation of the crews in the small square of Atrani, from which the historical procession of the republics winds its way will move towards Amalfi. Sunday, May 18, the grand finale with the open sea race of the four galleons and the 32 rowers - eight rowers led by a coxswain per vessel - who give themselves battle with oars. The regatta harks back to the glories of the Middle Ages when the galleys of the Ancient Maritime Republics They sailed the Mediterranean on the route to North Africa and the Middle East to establish colonies and maintain relations commercial and diplomatic. With the regatta and the parades it is the history of Amalfi and the wedding celebrated in 976 is recalled between Sergio, the firstborn of Duke Giovanni I and the Duchess royal, and the Lombard Maria, daughter of the prince of Capua and of Benevento. The scene of the re-enactments is, in addition to the stretch of sea between Capo di Vettica and Marina Grande, the historic centre of the city, decorated with the flags of the four Republics Marinare and where the procession of participants takes place, conceived by the set designer Roberto Scielzo with costumes in style Arab-Byzantine, made with fine silk and linen fabrics and brocade. The various social classes are present in the procession: the duke, the judges, the count of the palace, the consuls, the military, the knights, archers and the people with sailors and rowers. The galleons are also historical, rebuilt on models from the 12th century. century by Alvio Vaglini and launched on 9 June 1956 on the Riva dei Royal Gardens. 11 meters long, weighing 760 kilos and each seat fixed, they are painted with the traditional colours of the four seaside cities: the blue of Amalfi, the red of Pisa, the white of Genoa and the green of Venice. Originally made of wood, were replaced by fiberglass boats with a stern castle with the flag of the respective republic and a figurehead at the bow: Amalfi uses a winged horse which, together with the mermaid, was one of the main motifs used for figureheads of the medieval galleys; Genoa has the dragon recalling its protector Saint George; Pisa displays the Germanic imperial eagle in memory of the faithful collaboration with the Swabian cause and Ghibelline and Venice presents the lion of St. Mark, symbol of the his patron saint.