
The Scamiciata is a historical reenactment held in Fasano (Brindisi, Apulia) in memory of the victory over the Turks on June 2, 1678. On this day, after years or even centuries of enduring Turkish raids in patient resignation, the people of Fasano finally defeated the Turks in a major battle outside the city walls.
In remembrance and celebration of this victory, in past centuries, a "popular tournament" was organized during the feast of the town's Patroness, the Madonna of Pozzo Faceto, following a precise ritual. A banner with the image of the Virgin was raised on the town hall’s loggia, under which many young people from the town were recruited like a Crusade. After a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Pozzo Faceto, almost like a vigil of arms, on the day of the Solemnity, in the evening, the battle between the Turks and the people of Fasano was reenacted in Largo Fogge. After winning the battle, the Fasanesi would drag their enemies in chains under the Virgin’s banner, parading through the streets of Fasano in a procession known as "La Scamiciata."
This tradition fell out of practice around the mid-19th century because the reasons that had originally given rise to it were no longer relevant.
In 1978, to mark the 300th anniversary of the victory over the Turks, a group of citizens, mostly young people with experience from the local folklore group, revived the tradition by founding the "Comitato per il Giugno Fasanese." They presented it in a way that aligned with modern tastes and sensibilities. This led to the creation of the Historical Parade, representing the triumph of the Fasanesi after the battle.
On Saturday, the Scamiciata is reenacted. The main feature is a procession with moments of itinerant spectacle, in which the battle of June 2, 1678, is portrayed by each group (flag bearers, drummers, etc.). About 400 participants take part, and this number doubles when the other historical parades join in, as they participate not only on Friday but also during this event. The parade is led by the flag-bearer group, accompanied by trumpets, drums, and flags. Following them are groups representing the noble families of the time, each preceded by a banner with the respective family crest. Some young people, also in costume, ride horses. Then, the civil, religious, and military authorities of the time follow, in their uniforms, riding in period carriages drawn by horses. Behind them come the soldiers, halberdiers, and the Turks, with the local population dressed in their traditional costumes, singing and dancing around the triumph boat.
The parade moves through the main streets of the city, stopping in Piazza Ciaia, where the young man playing the General Sindaco offers the keys to the City to the Madonna in front of her sacred image displayed in the square. Among the participants are also the Knights of Malta and their Ladies, representatives of the noble families of Fasano, Captain Fra’ Zurlo from Crema (who is said to have led the citizens to victory over the Turks), carriages, horse riders, coats of arms, and the common people. The Scamiciata ends with performances by various folklore groups.