On 5 and 6 June, the centre of Pécs and its World Heritage sites will once again evoke the atmosphere of the Ancient Roman Empire. The Roman Festival is being held on Szent István tér and at the Cella Septichora Visitor Centre, where a torchlight procession, legionaries, interactive family adventures and Roman delicacies await visitors.
The event begins on Friday 5 June at 17:00 with the official opening, where Zag Gábor, Deputy Mayor of the city of Pécs, will welcome the participants. Visitors can then step into the world of ancient Rome: the emperor makes his entrance escorted by the Praetorian Guard and the senators, the Naiades Danubianae dance ensemble performs ancient Roman dances, and a religious ceremony recalls the cult of the Roman gods.
A special feature of the evening is the Antique Beauty Workshop (Antik Szépségműhely), where participants can prepare for the most beautiful moment of the evening in period costume, with braided hair and a hand-made wreath: the evening torchlight procession of historical re-enactment groups through the historic centre of Pécs.
After the procession, a DJ set rounds off the day, inviting visitors to relax informally to pleasant tunes.
On Saturday the festival unfolds in all its splendour: from the imperial entrance in the morning, through the Praetorian display in the afternoon, to the falconry demonstration, visitors can discover every slice of ancient life.
The all-day programmes include:
• Themed workshops and interactive demonstrations for the general public
• A visit to the military camp and a chance to try out legionary weapons and equipment
• A presentation of Roman cuisine, with tastings
• A stonemasonry demonstration and a falconry exhibition
• Re-enactment camps and an exhibition of period costumes
• Free guided themed walks in the late Roman, Early Christian cemetery (registration required; departing from the Cella Septichora Visitor Centre)
One of the most exciting new features of this year’s festival is an interactive adventure tale called “Aelia and the Chest of the Sun” (Aelia és a Nap Ládája), in which children go through three trials – in the Burial Chamber with the Jug, the Tombstone Garden and the Mausoleum – in search of the key to free the Sun from the captivity of Tenebrus, the spirit of darkness. The programme runs in groups of up to 20, accompanied by live actors and moderators, and costs HUF 1,000 per person. It departs from the Cella Septichora Visitor Centre, and tickets must be bought in advance.
Admission to the outdoor programmes is free. During the festival – from 15:00 on Friday 5 June to 18:00 on Saturday 6 June – tickets to the World Heritage sites are available at a reduced price (HUF 1,000 per person).
The Cella Septichora Visitor Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:30 on Friday and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturday.
The event is the official finale of the Training Academy held as part of the international RomansWineDanube project, which aims to showcase and jointly promote the Roman heritage of the Danube region.
Source: Turizmus.com