Our History

The first "La Spada nella Rocca" ("The Sword in the Stronghold") festival was held the weekend before Pentecost in 1999. From the beginning, the event framed by Bellinzona's three medieval casteles, with many ebents taking place in and around the hillside castle of Montebello. The first year's activities were a reso unding success and made headlines in many important regional newspapers.

Offering the public a chance to taste the food and wine of medieval times was the focus of the first festival and continues to be a part of La Spada nella Rocca today; however, in the face of growing re-enactment activities, our educational gastronomic events have been distilled into one delicious evening of medieval feasting. This classic banquet is a perennial highlight of our festival.

Though La Spada nella Rocca was originally a two day festival, since 2002, it has grown into a three day event; welcoming bigger crowds and better organization each year. Over 300 re-enactors and thousands of visitors from Switzerland and nearby Italy help render our festival the second most important event for the City of Bellinzona (the first being the local Mardi Gras celebration known as Rabadan).

Nevertheless, our ever expanding mosaic of activities is constantly evolving. Since 2004, “Ritorno al medioevo”, or “Return to the Middle Ages”, has helped educate kids and young adults about the games, storytelling, chivalry and court life of the medieval period. These educational activities take place in the Castle of Sasso Corbaro. In 2007, in addition to presenting a public lecture on the Middle Ages, several downtown window displays helped illustrate medieval customs and situations. Some of our re-enactors also made presentations in local schools.

The grand finale of La Spada nella Rocca is a full-scale re-enactment of a pitched medieval battle. Is there any better way of spending a Sunday afternoon? You be the judge. Check out the pictures in our photo gallery or on our fan pages.

Albero Engeli and Dr. Zoom Productions, from Hollywood California, filmed a documentary at La Spada nella Rocca in 2006, and garnered some international attention for our festival. In 2007, the film won a silver award for cultural documentary and production and a bronze award for historical/biographical documentary at the prestigious Telly Awards in New York. The film also won two awards at the distinguished Aegis Awards of Rhode Island. If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of the film, just let us know. Copies of are available for 25 CHF.

In celebration of our 10th anniversary in 2009, we are using not two, but all three castles as the stage for this year’s festival! Moreover, the streets and alleys of Bellinzona will be flooded with our re-enactors and a medieval market. We are planning on making this year the best Spada nella Rocca ever!