A festival recreating the man in the iron mask, Maschera di Ferro, takes place in the Piemonte town of Pinerolo the first weekend of October. Festival information and photos (taken by Dario Constantino of Eco dell Chisone and used with permission) were sent to me by Marla Gulley, Bella Baita Bed and Breakfast. Click on the pictures to see them larger.
1. Man in the Iron Mask
© 2005 Dario Constantino, with permission
Maschera di Ferro is a historic reenactment of the Man in the Iron mask legend. According to the legend, the man in the iron mask was held for 11 years in the French fortress of Pignerol (old spelling of Pinerolo), in Piedmont.
The man in the mask is played by someone different each year. Sunday afternoon after the story is acted out, the mask is removed to reveal the man wearing it. In this photo, taken in 2005, the wearer was Piero Gross, Olympic Slalom gold medalist from the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck.
2. Festival Procession
© 2005 Dario Constantino, with permission
A procession with participants dressed in period clothes is often part of historic reenactment festivals. Here a procession goes through the streets of Pinerolo during the Maschera di Ferro festival. All weekend there are people dressed in historic costumes parading around town.
3. Maschera di Ferro Events and Festival Information
© 2005 Dario Constantino, with permission
Street performances in the squares and streets of Pinerolo's historic center are the highlight of Saturday evening, la notte del moschettieri. Other events include a Sunday morning special mass in the cathedral, lectures, demonstrations, and dinners. The Maschera di Ferro web site has the full schedule (in Italian) and more photos.
4. The Town of Pinerolo
Pinerolo Catthedral © 2007 James Martin, Wanderer's Eye Travel Photography
Pinerolo is a good-sized town with arcaded streets, shops, cafes, and a small historic center. Its unusual cathedral (shown in the photo) has painted columns and a blue ceiling adorned with stars. On a nice day, it's pleasant to sit under the arcades and enjoy a cup of coffee and chocolate lovers will find good handmade chocolates in the shops. There's a large market in town on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
5. Pinerolo Location in the Piemonte Region
Val Chisone Map © 2007 James Martin
Pinerolo is in the beautiful alpine Chisone Valley, west of Turin, and was one of the Olympic venues in the 2006 Winter Olympics. There's lots to see and do in the Val Chisone and few tourists. Highlights include hiking, winter skiing, painted mural villages, a huge fortress, a museum of traditional rural life, a lake, and good local cuisine. Take a look at our Val Chisone pictures for more about this hidden treasure in Piemonte (click on the link above to see Pinerolo's location on the Piemonte map).
6. Where to Stay
James Martin, Europe for Visitors
Bella Baita bed and breakfast is an inexpensive alpine mountain retreat in a scenic and peaceful setting near Pinerolo. It's run by an American woman and her Italian husband who do their utmost to ensure that their guests have a memorable stay in the Val Chisone. Besides helping guests plan their days, they're also excellent chefs and will prepare dinner for guests upon request.
7. The Man in the Iron Mask Book
The Man in the Iron Mask is a classic adventure story written by Alexandre Dumas in the nineteenth century. It continues the story of the Three Muskateers. The story centers on the discovery that King Louis XIV of France has a twin brother imprisoned in the Bastille and the scheme to put him on the throne.
