PERUGIA After two consecutive second places, in 2018 and 2019, Porta Sant’Angelo won the Palio 2022 in Perugia 1416. The victory came at the end of an exciting move to the tower in a crowded Piazza Matteotti and after the suggestive challenge of historical archery, won by Porta Santa Susanna. “A double victory – the consul Franco Ivan Nucciarelli commented hotly – for having obtained that the historical procession did not compete in the final classification”.
To announce the winning district, from the staircase of Palazzo dei Priori, the captain of the people, Rossano Felicetti, in place of Braccio-Alexio Bachiorri, who with Teresa Severini, president of the Perugia 1416 association, delivered the captain Lino Bizzaglia the chain of the winner and the Palio, the work of Francesca Biancalana. An almost obvious victory after the first place in the Corsa del drape and the second in the historical archery. The Palio therefore arrived with 28 points, ten more than the maxi ex aequo that was registered between Porta Santa Susanna, Porta Sole and Porta Eburnea. It closed Porta San Pietro at an altitude of 8. The enthusiasm among the reds of San Michele Arcangelo started with the victory of the Mossa alla Torre after a grueling final play-off with Porta Eburnea, who came second. “We competed with a lot of heart and passion – says one of the infantrymen, Mattia Masotti – that we have cultivated year after year: we are a very close-knit group”. In the Italian group, the boys led by Bizzaglia lost only one heat, against Porta Sole. “We had put it in the budget, to give the team a shifts to rest and then play it all out in the playoff”. A strategy that paid off. «There was a choral commitment – adds the captain – starting with the runners and ending with the Mossa della Torre. We are a group of friends who have always remained together. The merit of this victory belongs to everyone, from the consul to the athletes ». Also precious are the points placed in the quiver by the veteran of Perugia 1416, Carlo Cintioli. «It was the victory of speed, power and precision, considering that Carlo has been shooting archery for a month, after having been our javelin player for five years. It was a real show ». The victory of the group and the team. “Since 2016 we have been a historical nucleus that has grown together to which new elements have been added, educated by the old: it was a suffered but deserved victory”. For the consul Nucciarelli, even a small revenge: «We obtained that the procession did not compete in the final classification because there was too much subjectivity behind the judgments. As a historian I know well that a painting that can be beautiful for me cannot be beautiful for another person ». From this point of view, also the victory of Porta Sole which has fought a lot in recent years to “dry” the ranking of the palio and limit it to vintage games. The procession will still need some adjustments, to make it more engaging.
The afternoon began with the unprecedented challenge of historical archery, in the Cloister of San Lorenzo, in front of (few) neighborhoods. At the end of the three heats, the second all female, the best was Porta Santa Susanna which with 13 ceramic plates knocked down (the center of 15 centimeters placed on the pallet, to be hit from 15 meters) took first place and 10 points up for grabs. Thanks to the final draw of Mauro Ragni who hit 7 out of 12 dishes at the age of 67, closing the bear district and the chain at 13. “I recently started building historical bows and arrows and over time I also started shooting. From this year I have participated in the Fitast championship, the Federation of traditional historical archery, winning two first places and a third in the competitions held up to now ». A positive debut for this challenge, perhaps to be relocated to a location suitable for spectators. «We have seen a good level», commented the referees Giorgio Gabrielli (historical shooter from Corciano) and Sebastiano Rabito, Fitarco technician. «A good job has been done, thanks to the collaboration of the five captains who were involved in the preparation and organization of the event».
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