WTI Magazine #54    2015 February, 20
Author : folclore.it      Translation by:

This is a historical re-enactment that takes place during the Carnival period. The local tradition tells about a Bibbiena divided into two districts: the one of "Piazzolini" which takes its name from the Piazza, still nowadays called Piazzolina, and the lower of the "Fondaccini", from Fondaccio (in Italian, "fondo" means bottom). While the first area was the richer one, where lords used to live, the second was the ward of the people, the artisans.

If Piazzolini had the most beautiful buildings in Bibbiena, the Fondaccini had another wealth: the pretty girls. Among the nicest there was the washerwoman Bartolomea, also called Mea, for her curvy forms.

Mea had been promised in marriage to a weaver, Cecco. One day, however, while Mea was bringing the laundry back to the castle, met Tarlati, son of the Count. The two began to talk and soon they fell in love. Cecco heard of it, and from there on violent brawls between the two districts began.

To prevent the escalation of the brawls, the Count called the population at the center of the village, and gave Mea back to Cecco, thus returning her to Fondaccio. Then the village opened the festivities and the Pomo peace was burned. Each year, to commemorate this legend, Bibbiena celebrates this event on the last day of Carnival, burning the "Bello Pomo".

Everyone is going to watch the big event, hoping for the best times for the next harvest. An interesting event, with ancient origins, whose legend has become a way to spend time together, singing, dancing and being happy.