Wherever the San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation has performed, it has always reaped great success, both in San Marino and beyond the borders of the ancient Republic. Performances and competitions continue to excite audiences and involve them in an atmosphere of times gone by.
The San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation performs in large squares and in the open, but also in smaller areas, by adapting its repertoire to the occasion. The Federation presents itself to the public in various formations that go from small groups of individuals to imposing processions consisting of 150 people.
The repertoire of the San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation varies:
Processions: These consist of: musicians (clarions, drums), flag-throwers, walk-ons (noblemen and women, soldiers, ensign-bearers and flag-bearers), and marksmen, and offer a highly appealing show; all the participants wear very colourful and bright period costumes. They are constantly accompanied by music and flag-throwing.
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Squares: Performances in squares are distinguished by flag-throwing shows accompanied by the roll of drums and the blowing of trumpets. The flag-throwers can perform in various formations, individually, in pairs or in teams consisting of twelve throwers (ensigns). They present the ancient signals used to communicate during battles or others used at times of peace during festivities.
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Another show is that offered by the noblemen and women, who evoke the atmospheres of court ceremonies with their splendid costumes, and execute Renaissance dances to original music.
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Crossbow shooting: As in the past, when trained militiamen competed against one another with the crossbow or trained in public, a group of crossbowmen still exists today that competes using crossbows shot from wooden benches. The target is usually 36 metres away from the weapon which, because of its considerable shooting power, was in the past, that most commonly used to defend the town walls.
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