Kite Festival and Flower Market Show

Every year, the first Sunday after Easter in San Miniato will be the day dedicated to the launch of Kites and the Flower Show.

The Kite Festival takes place on the lawn in front of the tower of Frederick II, where dozens of kites take to the skies from the morning, with the masters of San Miniato taking to the skies the kites built according to the old Tuscan tradition: river reeds dried in the open air, natural string, glue made with water and flour, oiled paper or tissue paper.
This is followed by the city’s historical procession through the streets of the city centre with characters relevant to the historical reality of the city: from Matilde di Canossa to Pier delle Vigne, from Costanza d’Altavilla to Frederick II of Swabia, from Lodovico Cardi known as ‘Il Cigoli’, to Maria Magdalena of Austria and Napoleon.
The day also includes the flight of hot-air balloons: from Piazza del Duomo they take to the skies laden with messages and peace poems written by the children. At the end, awards will be presented to the top three in the kite flight and an auction of painted kites will take place.

 

For about twenty years, the Flower Show has also been held at the same time, turning the Seminary Square into a real garden.

Last but not least, the antiques and collectors’ market and the ‘Arts and Crafts’ market in Piazza del Popolo, Corso Garibaldi and Piazzale Dante Alighieri throughout the day: crafts, handicrafts, bricolage, ancient trades, small antiques, collectibles, furniture.