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Vasto – Historical Toson d’Oro Re-enactment

Sunday 27 August 2023 @ 18:00 - Tuesday 29 August 2023 @ 21:00 CEST

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The annual August re-enactment of the Toson d’Oro in Vasto brings history to life as participants don Renaissance attire and recreate the elaborate ceremonies associated with the prestigious Order of the Golden Fleece. Amidst the charming backdrop of Vasto’s streets, this event immerses spectators in the grandeur and heritage of this ancient chivalric order and includes a parade of aristocracy, knights, flag wavers a parade band, dancers, and more that is perfect for kids who love history. It begins at 18:00 each evening on August 25th, 26th, and 27th (according to the Vasto Summer Calendar).

Here is a short description of its history translated from the event’s Facebook page:

“The Golden Fleece is a dynastic order of chivalry. It was founded in 1429 by Philip II the Good, Duke of Burgundy to celebrate his wedding to Isabella of Aviz. Only a limited number of Knights were eligible as a reward for loyalty to the Burgundy court.  After the abdication of Charles V, the awarding of the Order of the Golden Fleece was presented by the Spanish Habsburgs until 1701. From that year, in fact, for historical reasons, there were two branches of the order:

-in the Spanish Branch, Felipe VI is the Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece;-in the Austrian Branch today, not as a state order but as a dynastic order, the Head of the Imperial and Royal House of Habsburg-Lorraine, Charles of Habsburg, is the Sovereign Grand Master of the Order.

Only the Grand Masters of the Order can institute new knights.  The knights who are invested traditionally wear the insignia which consisted of a gold collar from which hung the “fleece” in enamelled gold, from which the order takes its name.

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Details

Organisers

  • Life In Abruzzo
  • The “Amici del Toson D’Oro” Cultural Association
  • Vasto City

Venue

We will do our best to keep this calendar up to date, however in the case of last-minute cancellations due to adverse weather conditions, Covid outbreaks and so forth this may not always be possible.  In these cases, you should contact the event organiser for a refund as we are not responsible for the events on the calendar, only compiling them into an easy list.  As soon as we have news from an organiser when any event will be rescheduled we will update the calendar accordingly.

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