Teatri in Piazza to which translates to "theaters in the square" are various theater's companies that got together to do a theatrical city tour while at the same time the actors involved the bystanders that were hypnotized by the surrealism of this event. We started from Logge dei Banchi (1603) , an old market square that traded silk and wool, next to the Comune di Pisa. We were welcome by Don Quijote de la Mancha and Sancho Panza. The architecture of Logge dei Banchi served as the perfect space for their performance and their props. On this first act, I was lucky to be involved for a brief moment as one of the "noble ladies". I decided to do various slideshows for each stop. Pisa never stops amusing me! It is the perfect place to feed the imagination and the appetite as well!
The second stop was at Piazza del Carmine in front of the Church " Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine " built for the Carmine order in 1324 - 1328. Here we are introduced to another character "Peter", one of the leaders of the church (It was really funny because in front of the church there were a group of people at a table with booklets about Jesus' life). At some point Peter meets Jesus, and tells him he is a pope, and of course Jesus has no idea as to what Peter is talking about!
Heading towards Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, a huge square that was badly damaged during WWII, we stopped for another voyage into the past. We are introduced to two characters common in medieval times, well not really! We have the proper and dignified monk/priest with his repented sinner. Their monologue reminded me of a dream I had a few days before, to which I was exorcising demons out of a priest. I asked a friend psychiatrist what does my dream means, and he responded "poor priest". Oh well, time then was about fear. The actors were so funny putting it at play in the narrow street of Corso Italia.
Now we are in Viale Antonio Gramsci. This place is just one block away from the train station. The infamous viale is home mostly to illegal immigrants that are desperately trying to survive. The faces of these immigrants are ignored by the people that passes them by. Their reality cannot be sweetened by a few minutes of comedy because somehow they feel entrapped in space. I watched their faces, as well as the faces of the enthusiastic followers, and those of the performers. We have become one face in that brief moment of theatrical enjoyment.
Piazza della Stazione is the train station of Pisa. If you ever come to Pisa by train, the main street that faces the station will lead you into Corso Italia, then to Ponte de Mezzo, Borgo Stretto, Piazza dei Cavaglieri, Via Roma, and finally Piazza dei Miracoli where the leaning tower awaits you for that famous push or hold that seems so vague and distant but to me it is filled with magic, love, wonder, energy and hope.
I return back to my camera to snap more photos of this beautiful spectacle. Here we are introduced to Saint Ranieri, the patron saint of Pisa. I just can't stop laughing. It is hilarious. Tourists and the usual crowd of the station are puzzled by the whole madness. I as well enter into the madness while taking it all in!
I return back to my camera to snap more photos of this beautiful spectacle. Here we are introduced to Saint Ranieri, the patron saint of Pisa. I just can't stop laughing. It is hilarious. Tourists and the usual crowd of the station are puzzled by the whole madness. I as well enter into the madness while taking it all in!
And sadly we have arrived to the end of the show. They have decided to bring us back into the present by taking us to the famous mural of Keith Haring " Tuttomondo". Tuttomondo, medieval songs, and personages with their costumes, splashes gracefully creating an imaginary vision au Pollack. I have been so trapped into it that I am unaware of what time it is. I walk to one of my favorite coffee/chocolatier house in Via San Martino only to be disappointed because it is closed. However, as I walked to Ponte di Mezzo once again I fall in love with the beautiful colors over the Arno river. I have forgotten all about my chocolates. I am seduced by nature!
Pisa is Amore!
The theatrical performance took place on June 6, 2015 from 6:00 PM to around 8:10 PM. Sunset same day at around 8:45PM.
Photos published on June 8, 2015
Photos published on June 8, 2015