On Sunday, 9 November, ‘Libertas Pisarum. Festa della Seconda Repubblica Pisana’ (Freedom of Pisa. Festival of the Second Pisan Republic) will be celebrated at the Giardino Scotto and the Bastione Sangallo. 

The event, promoted by the Municipality of Pisa - Department of Traditions of History and Identity of Pisa - and by the Balestrieri di Porta San Marco, aims to celebrate the anniversary of the proclamation of the Second Republic of Pisa on 9 November 1494, a day symbolising freedom and city autonomy.

Sunday's event will also be an opportunity to preview the medals reproducing the two medieval seals of Pisa, a project of the Department of Historical Traditions and Identity of which I am particularly proud. These are two ancient symbols with a strong identity: the Seal of the Municipality, with the Madonna and Child enthroned, and the Seal of the People, with the Ghibelline eagle grasping the Guelph lion. These medals reproduce the original matrices of the seals preserved in the National Museum of San Matteo. The box containing the two medals is accompanied by an explanatory text by Professor Monica Baldassarri, taken from the book “Cimabue in Pisa. Pisan painting of the 13th century from Giunta to Giotto”.

PROGRAMME

10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Opening to the public of the covered walkway at the top of the walls adjacent to the Scotto Garden and inside the Sangallo Bastion with guided tours. 
Last admission to the bastion at 6:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m. - conference dedicated to the “Societates Populi” of the Republic of Pisa, their organisation and the role they played in the political and social context of the time, with scenographic animation and a presentation by Renzo Ciangherotti.

5:00 p.m. - preview of the presentation of reproductions in the form of medals of the medieval seals of Pisa, curated by Councillor Filippo Bedini, followed at 5:30 p.m. by musical entertainment by the ensemble “h.e.r.p.e.s.”, which will perform pieces inspired by the main events in the history of the Republic.