Choosing the winner of the Gubbio Balestra May 2006
Because of the weight and accuracy of the crossbows each archer positions his balestra on a shooting bench and launches his steel pointed arrow across the 36 metre range at a speed close to 250 km per hour into a conical target called the ‘corniolo’. Each arrow ‘freccia’ is hand painted and marked with the name of the archer. Like a cluster of tail feathers, the target grows with a bouquet of deadly flowers. As each dart hurtles its way to the centre of the bull, a black inverted cone with a white face, the deadly speed and effect of the weapons is immediately apparent.
Size: 5116px × 3415px
Location: Palazzo degli Consoli Gubbio Umbria Italy
Photo credit: © Christine Webb / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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