Festa dell’Unicorno
The Festa dell’Unicorno (unicorn festival) takes place in Leonardo da Vinci’s home town of Vinci, Tuscany.
In one of his otherwise impressively scientifically accurate notebooks, da Vinci explained the reasoning behind the medieval belief that only a virgin could capture a unicorn: “The unicorn, through its intemperance and not knowing how to control itself, for the love it bears to fair maidens forgets its ferocity and wildness; and laying aside all fear it will go up to a seated damsel and go to sleep in her lap, and thus the hunters take it.”
The Festa dell’Unicorno is a three day mid-summer fantasy and cosplay festival. Costumes and roleplay are not solely limited to unicorns however, and a wild array of creatures can be found roaming the streets from goblin lords to steampunk warriors. Costumes aren’t compulsory but entry will only cost you 5 euros if you’re dressed up.