Castelfiorentino is holding the Archeo Festival, the first edition of the festival dedicated to Archaeology. During the days of Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, there will be meetings, exhibitions and workshops for the youngest, devoted to aspects of archaeological research (local and international) and relation to the fact that in the 16th century Castelfiorentino was a center of “excellence” in the production of ceramics, in particular plates and table bowls of the “engobed and graffito” type.
Promoted by the Municipality of Castelfiorentino in collaboration with the Pro Loco and the support of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze on the occasion of the European Archaeology Days, the Archeo Festival comes with a diversified program open to all, alternating conferences with scholars with educational workshops, specialized meetings with exhibition events, and practical demonstrations of some of the techniques of craftsmanship in the ancient world. In this regard, an Etruscan-Roman encampment is planned in Gramsci Square and in front of the Ridotto.
The Archeo Festival will be inaugurated on Friday, June 17 (4 p.m.) at the Ridotto of the Teatro del Popolo, with greetings from the mayor, Alessio Falorni, Deputy Mayor Claudia Centi, and Michela Buena (archaeological superintendence). This was followed by papers by Marja Mendera and Elena Funghini, dedicated to “Renaissance Ceramics of Castelfiorentino. History of the discovery and restoration work,” which dates precisely from 2005/2006 with the discovery in Piazza Cavour of about 60,000 finds.
This will be followed by Martina Landrino’s talk dedicated to the “village of Deir el-Medina and the Pharaoh’s workers,” and-at 6:30 p.m.-a guided tour of the Municipal Library to admire the restored Renaissance ceramics that have recently found a worthy home in the Library’s ancient collection. Finally, after the aperitif-dinner, a talk by Marta Beronio and Generoso Urciuoli “On the trail of Moses: the Exodus between myth and archaeological research” is scheduled at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, June 18, at the Ridotto of the Teatro del Popolo (3:15 p.m.) conference dedicated to local and international archaeology with papers by Lorella Alderighi on “Bellafonte. History of a site through the study of a forgotten well,” by Sabrina Bartali and Antonio Alberti incnetrato on “Archaeological investigations in the Roman site of Sant’Antonio in Montaione,” by Alessandro Costantini on “Late Antique ceramics” from the same site, by Fabio Stratta on the importance of “Documenting the past,” and finally by Alberto Maria Pollastrini on “The weapons of Tutankhamun.” At the same time, starting at 5 p.m., an Etruscan-Roman encampment with craft demonstrations and workshops for children will be set up in Piazza Gramsci and in the area in front of the Ridotto.
“For more than fifteen years,” observes Deputy Mayor, Claudia Centi, “the Municipality of Castelfiorentino has been committed to the enhancement of its Renaissance past on the side of ceramic production, which the significant findings in Piazza Cavour have certified its level of excellence, achieved at the time thanks to the existence of as many as three “kilns” or workshops scattered throughout the historic center. The restoration and the recent placement of the finds in the ancient fund, which took place thanks to the renovation in the top floor of the Library, ensured these ceramics a happy location. Therefore, we enthusiastically welcomed the proposal of Alberto Maria Pollastrini, to whom the feeling of gratitude of the municipal administration and citizenship goes, for this first edition of the Archeo Festival, for which he laid the organizational foundations together with the Cetra association.”
The Archeo Festival is organized in cooperation with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Metropolitan City of Florence and the provinces of Pistoria and Prato, the Cetra association, the Valdelsa Fiorentina archaeological association, the “Vallesiana” Municipal Library and the cultural association Antichi Popoli.