Renewing itself while remaining aligned with its classicism and the scenographic fidelity of the era. The sixteenth edition of “The spectacular landing of Don John of Austria”in its 453rd anniversary, follows that traditional and at the same time grandiose representation for the staging and the magnificence of the costumes. Although it falls within the paragraph of the events in which history and folklore are combined, on a symbolic level “The spectacular landing” confirms in an absolutely concrete way that bridge that links cultures, past and present, exalting the city of Messina, the Strait and the sea: as if it were a perennial anchor that keeps the “peloritane people” attached to that history in which the area of the Strait was one of the points of reference of the Mediterranean area. And Messina was a nerve center.
The “Corteo storico di terra” opens the long staging and takes us back in time thanks to the faithfulness of the costumes and the skill of the tireless actors. who play flag-wavers and musicians (over 150 extras in historical costume). But it is the “Ceremony of the marriage of the sea”, in the small port of Marina del Nettuno, that binds Messina once again and inextricably to its Strait: «We marry you, sea, in the sign of our millenary history that unites us to you in the ancient faith, in the ancient trades and in the ancient traditions» recites the millenary formula read by the deputy mayor Salvatore Mondello, representing the absent mayor Basile. A bond guarded by the Madonnina and renewed by the throwing of the ring into the sea. Deputy Mayor who, together with Admirals Aurelio De Carolis and Nunzio Martello, also awarded the prize to the Contrada of Paradiso, winner of the “Palio d’agosto – Trofeo Don Giovanni d’Austria”, which started from the Rada di Grotte and arrived at the small port of Marina del Nettuno. Victory, obtained in front of the Contrada of Pace, which is worth a hat-trick after the successes of the last two years. Also competing were the crews of Grotte and Case Basse.
The sea always remains at the center of the history of humanity, because the scenic grandeur of “The spectacular landing” and the arrival of the ship Palinuro (greeted by the water games of the tugboats) is counterbalanced by the presence of the former fishing vessel Handala of “Freedom Flotilla”, which arrived in Messina on Friday and docked on the opposite bank of the pier. The humanitarian mission of the activists towards Palestine projects everyone to a bitter present, a sign of how men have learned little from their own mistakes and from history itself.
Many people were present, despite the scorching heat, at the Passeggiata a mare and in Via Garibaldi, until welcoming, at the Molo Colapesce in Largo Minutoli, the actual disembarkation of Don Giovanni d’Austria from the Palinuro ship, the “jewel schooner” of the Navy, which can also be visited by citizens this morning from 9.00 to 12.00.
The narration by the journalist Letizia Lucca, never over the top, precise in recounting the entire event with a wealth of details, marks the meeting in Piazza Unione Europea of the land procession and the sea procession, with the triumphal entry of Don Giovanni d’Austria and the greeting of the Senate of Messina on the steps of Palazzo Zanca. It is the highlight of the theatrical performance, led by the Aurora Association of the president Fortunato Manti, with the organizational direction of Fortunato Manti and the coordination of the various processions by Carmelo De Leo, Nico Pandolfino and Carmelo Recupero.
An event, strongly desired by the culture councilor Enzo Caruso, which is among the 25 historical reenactments in Italy (out of 1200) for its spectacularity and majesty: «It is the only naval parade supported by institutions and navy – says Caruso – and the success comes only with the perfect synergy between the parties and with the work of the entire administration. It is part of the calendar of international events “From Lepanto to the meeting” and for this reason we hosted the delegations of Venice, Granada, Marino, Nicosia and Regensburg (the city of Don Giovanni). A round of applause for the complex work of coordinating the naval procession by the coast guard and thanks to the civil protection associations, to the port authority, to the commander Aurelio De Carolis and to the crew of the Palinuro ship, to the general and provincial police forces, to all the sailing clubs and to the coordinators of the parades Carmelo Recupero, Nico Pandolfino and Carmelo De Leo. A round of applause also goes to the complex work of coordination of the naval parade by the Port Authority”.