The Italian Association for Culture and Sport (AiCS) is staging a two-day national event in Gerfalco on June 29 and 30, pairing historical archery competitions with medieval culinary workshops in the heart of the Maremma region. Titled “Vivere o morire di fame o di freccia”, the gathering brings together sport and culture to explore both ancient weaponry and historical nutrition.
The AiCS technical commission for archery is promoting the weekend, which features events across different local venues including the Agriturismo Poggio alla Luna and Casale Torricella.
Archery Competitions and Historical Techniques
The VII Gruppo ASD is organizing a national historical archery tournament under AiCS auspices during the weekend. This competition aims to revive the legacy of the ‘Torneo Sagitta’, which ran from 2012 until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Sunday’s program at Casale Torricella includes theoretical and practical sessions on ancient wooden bows and arrows. The interdisciplinary working group MBA!, active since 2017, will conduct special tests focusing on ancient bow techniques, construction methods, and battlefield usage.
Medieval Culinary Workshops and Dinners
Cultural programming also explores food history from Roman times to the late Middle Ages. On Saturday evening, Agriturismo Poggio alla Luna hosts a themed dinner featuring recipes interpreted and translated by geomomorphologist and food history researcher Federica Badiali, focusing on game meat paired with plant-based foods and beverages.
Additionally, an ancient cooking workshop is scheduled for Sunday in collaboration with the GerfalcoLab association. Participants will engage in reading, interpreting, and executing period recipes using ingredients and preparation techniques close to original methods to understand the gastronomic and cultural value of the dishes.
