Tocatì 2009 - Labirynth

Like last year, the Tocatì brought thousands of people down on the streets of the historical centre. More than last year maybe, as the event attracts people from all over Italy, tv and press.

(Please see the link above for more details!).

This is the medieval Cortile del Mercato Vecchio where hundreds of plastic panels made up a huge labyrinth. I took this pic on the stairs of Palazzo della Ragione.

Tocatì, last day

Today it was the last day of Tocatì so we spent most of the time out on the streets to see the games. Some places were really chock-a-block and it was almost impossible to penetrate the human barrier to take a look at what was going on. I liked this one, the "Back Hold": in this position the two players have to try to put the other one aground. I so much liked the skirts!
So the sixth edition of Tocatì is finished. Tomorrow the streets will be quiet again. Well, quet-ish...

Note the Borsalino sign: under the arches there is the shop, a very famous and traditional italian hat designer. They have the most beautiful hats!

Tocatì

Tocatì: veronese dialect word that in italian is "tocca a te", meaning "it's your turn".
Tocatì is an International Festival of Street Games. It begun yesterday and will end tomorrow evening. The guest country this year is Scotland. It's a veeery busy week end in town! Most of the squares of the hystorical centre host one or more traditional games. It's not only the games that make this event really interesting, there are, in fact exhibitions, meetings and conferences, music and tastes and other special events. I suggest you take a look!

The spirit of the event is to promote and keep alive the spirit of the traditional games, some of which really ancient. Like this scottish team game I saw this morning in Piazza delle Erbe, it's called "Carrachd Uibist" which I didn't really understand, but it was funny to watch. I have chosen this photo because of the set and the many colourful people playing. But there were many many other smaller games that were being played, even just with small wooden objects whose names I don't know but they seemed really sweet: the sort of games that our grand parents might have known as children...