In the two years we've spent describing our incredible land we've talked about history, culture, hidden corners only locals know about and famous dishes: we've hardly covered the many odd festivals that dot the calendar. If it's reassuring to know that there are many volunteers ready to give a hand to bring back to life sometimes very obscure events, some of these festivals are positively weird. What about the one that, every year before Corpus Domini, sees a donkey fly down from the belltower to one of the most beautiful loggias in Empoli? This celebration dates back to the 1300s and, according to some scholars, was inspired not by real events but from a satirical poem written by a local comedian. The messed up thing is that, until 1861, it wasn't a statue to fly attached precariously to a tightrope, but a real donkey. Luckily since when the festival was brought back in 1981 the donkey is now a statue sculpted by a local artist but the festival remains quite odd. If you listen to the full episode you will learn how the "volo del ciuco" was born, the crazy story told by the poem, the very violent game that Empolesi tried to resurrect and how of the ancient festival nothing much remains today. If you're around here in mid June might be worth going to Empoli and checking it our for yourself. Doesn't happen every day to see a donkey fly! If you have anything to tell us, some advice, a burning question, anything, don't hesitate: we'd be glad to get to know you better!
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.lanazione.it/empoli/cronaca/ogni-popolo-ha-le-sue-leggende-volo-del-ciuco-allorigine-della-rivalita-tra-empoli-e-san-miniato-1.7366105
http://www.volodelciuco.it/blog/storia-del-volo/
https://it.wikisource.org/wiki/Sulla_necessit%C3%A0_di_abolire_il_volo_dell%27asino
https://www.gonews.it/2022/06/03/volo-del-ciuco-2022-programma/
https://toscananelcuore.it/volo-del-ciuco/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Mapping the Stars (Instrumental)
Aerocity - Cold Weather Kids
Jinxspr0 - Generation Bounce
Pipe Choir - Talk to Me (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/aerocity-cold-weather-kids
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/jinxspr0-generation-bounce
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-talk-to-me-instrumentalwav
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/