Norcia
On 21 March, the first day of spring, the first show outside Assisi: the mayor of Norcia hires them for a hundred thousand lire. Gemma Fortini calls them “the best youth of Assisi”.
Since 1975
The history of the Sbandieratori di Assisi
Four decades of squares, re-enactments and journeys: the group’s photo archive, year by year.
From a bet between friends in the autumn of 1975 to fifty years of squares, journeys and generations: the history of the Sbandieratori di Assisi, between Calendimaggio and the world.
“Do you know how long it takes to create a flag-throwing group? One day.”
October 1975
The bet
At the café, Gianni Piermaria bets his friend Sandro Ciarulli, known as Happy, that he will create a group of flag-wavers from Assisi: the loser buys the drinks. For twenty years Calendimaggio had been hiring the flag-wavers of Arezzo and Gubbio, and for Assisi that was a small wound to local pride.
With his brother Claudio and his friends he raises funds by collecting among the shopkeepers, buys the first flags in Sansepolcro and trains on the meadow in front of the Basilica of St Francis. About twenty sign up.
1May1976
The debut in Piazza del Comune
The winter is harsh, training stops, and by spring only eight of the boys are left, all from the Parte de Sotto. In the red, black and white costumes designed by Luciano Bernasconi and sewn by Bruno Tanci (only seven get finished) they run into the square, excited and out of breath.
- Gianni Piermaria
- Claudio Piermaria
- Francesco Mancinelli
- Alberto Brunacci
- Vittorio Cannelli
- Peppe Brizi
- Francesco Bolletta
- Gianfranco Casagrande “Doremi”
The square welcomes them like “a son who made it”. The flag-wavers’ contribution is decisive for the Parte de Sotto’s victory in the 1976 Palio.
The context
Calendimaggio and the two Parts
Parte de Sopra
Led by the Nepis family. The courteous contest renewed every spring dates back to the split of the citizenry in 1376.
Parte de Sotto
Led by the Fiumi family. This is where the Group is born, and where it stays until 1982, when with the second costume it becomes independent.
The consecration
Only the Parte de Sopra takes part in Calendimaggio: the Sbandieratori, by now belonging to the whole city, star in a show of about forty-five minutes in Piazza del Comune, on the day of the Madonna Primavera.
New York
Columbus Day: the Sbandieratori parade through the streets of New York with groups from all over the world. An unexpected recognition for a group born nine years earlier.
Since 1976
The world in flags
Hungary
Debrecen: Flower Carnival, best foreign group in 1988
Germany
1987 tour between Raesfeld and Borken
France
Chambord 1994, Parthenay 2000, Eyguières 2005, Aubigny-sur-Nère 2006
Spain
Ibiza, 2001
Kuwait
2001
United States
New York 1984; San Francisco 1996, 1999 and 2002, also with the Flag School
Netherlands
Slovakia
Italy
Bologna 1988 (8th Centenary of the University), Rome 1990 (Olympic Stadium, Italia ’90), Viterbo 2005 (first place in the flag-throwing competition)
Key dates
- 1975
- The Group is born
- 1982
- Second costume, independence from the Parte de Sotto
- 1984
- The current printed flag is born
- 1989
- Joins the FISB · third costume
- 1995
- Fourth costume
- 1999
- The Flag School is founded
- 2001
- Fifth costume
- 2015
- 40th anniversary · third generational turnover
- 2017
- Joins the LIS
- 2025
- The fiftieth anniversary and the book “La migliore gioventù” (The Best Youth)
Tiziano SensiFifty years is no small thing. Their worst enemy is, and will remain, the wind. For now: bet won!
The photo archive
The photos are arranged by decade and by year: choose a year to filter.
1975–1985
The beginnings
1985–1995
Growth
1995–2005
The world
2005–2015
Maturity
2015–2025
The fiftieth anniversary
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Festivals, historical re-enactments, official events, weddings and shows in Italy and abroad.
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