On Monday, April 6, an old Castelfiorentino tradition returns by popular demand: Pasquetta in Petrazzi, a hamlet of Castelfiorentino. In the past, people mainly walked there, and the celebration was limited to a gathering in the farmyard, accompanied by the sound of an accordion, where young people could dance and socialize. This location is also linked to the name of Giuseppe Garibaldi, as it was in a local villa—which at the time belonged to Tommaso Giannini—that the “Hero of Two Worlds” stayed during his visit to Castelfiorentino in August 1867, while he was preparing an expedition into the Papal States.
A villa that has preserved the atmosphere of the era intact, with furnishings, paintings, memorabilia, prints, and documents (including a letter from Garibaldi thanking his “friends of Castelfiorentino” and his “room,” with the original bed), and which the current owner, Leonardo Fabiani, has been periodically opening to visitors for several years to share its history (in 2019, it was also visited by his great-granddaughter Annita Garibaldi Jallet).
Villa Garibaldi will therefore open its doors on Monday, April 6, offering the opportunity—for a small fee—to take part in guided tours for small groups (10 a.m.–12 p.m., 2–6 p.m. Info and reservations: casamemoriagaribaldi@gmail.com; tickets can be picked up at the Circolo di Petrazzi). All participants will receive a package of “Biscotti Garibaldi,” specially prepared according to the original recipe created at the time of Italian unification (1861) by Jonathan Carr, founder of the Peek-Freans company in London.
In addition, the village will offer a rich program of events throughout the day: Starting in the morning (at 10:30 a.m.), there will be a tug-of-war competition organized by Polisportiva I’Giglio, a 4×4 jeep tour of the hills (until evening), and a car and motorcycle tour (at 11:00 a.m.) to discover the most beautiful spots in the Valdelsa. At 1:00 PM, lunch will be served at the Club, and in the afternoon (starting at 4:00 PM), there will be music by the “Bandaccia” of San Gimignano and a raffle (with great prizes up for grabs). Dinner is also planned at the Petrazzi Club (8:00 p.m.).
The festival is organized by the Circolo Arci of Petrazzi and is sponsored by the Municipality of Castelfiorentino.
“Easter Monday in Petrazzi,” notes Mayor Francesca Giannì, “is first and foremost a village festival shared by many residents of Castelfiorentino, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to showcase the historic estate linked to the name of Giuseppe Garibaldi—a little gem of our region that has also been part of the national network of Case della Memoria for several years now. My thanks go first and foremost to the many volunteers of the Circolo Arci, starting with Pierluigi Verdiani, for organizing the festival, and to the villa’s owner, Leonardo Fabiani, who is always willing to help showcase the beauty of this villa, which his family has lovingly preserved intact to this day”.
