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The legend of the Innamorata dates back to 1534, when the fate of two young lovers was tragically sealed by Saracen raids. The historical re-enactment was born in the mid-seventeenth century at the behest of Don Domingo Cardenas, a fallen nobleman of Spanish origin who settled in the place where it is said that Maria, the lover, sacrificed her life to reach the privateer ship that had captured her Lorenzo.
Even today, every July 14, a historical procession walks through the streets of the town until it reaches the Innamorata beach where the challenge between the crews of the districts takes place.An auctioneer and a torch maker open the parade, followed by a group made up of musicians, drummers, soldiers and the Captain of the Guard. At the center of the procession the group of nobles, illuminated by torch bearers, is preceded by the standard-bearer of the “Knights of the Innamorata of the Island of Elba”. Immediately afterwards an elderly fisherman accompanies Maria, who is impersonated by a girl from Capoliveri.
The procession continues with the crews of the boats of the four districts of the ancient castle, which are distinguished from each other by the color of the sash: blue for the Fortress, red for the Bulwark, green for the Ditch, yellow for the Tower. Each crew is led by an old fisherman (Capo Rione) flanked by a young woman from the neighborhood who carries the flag.
While the crews prepare for the challenge, the rest of the procession continues until they reach the beach in search of the two young lovers. A green rocket signals to the boats that the departure is approaching, which will take place when a red rocket lights up the sky.
The boats row towards the rock of Ciarpa, where the helmsmen throw themselves into the water to take the shawl that Maria, jumping in, has left entangled in the cliff. In the meantime, the representatives of Don Domingo Cardenas and Isabell Martorell, together with the fishermen and girls chosen from the four districts, await the winner who, after swimming along the stretch of sea that separates him from the beach, hands the Ciarpa to the elderly fisherman of his district, who delivers it into the hands of Don Cardenas; and it is the nobleman who wraps the shawl around the shoulders of the girl chosen by the winners, thus proclaiming the Mary of the following year. She will be the one to keep the shawl and, as tradition dictates, to find Love.
Days
13 July 25
14 July 25
From
Information/To know
Suitable for Everybody
Not wheelchair accessible
Location/The place
Address
Capoliveri, LI, Italia
How to get there
