Very few countries still have a corps of crossbowmen as an official part of their armed forces, but the tiny Republic of San Marino does. Although now an exclusively ceremonial part of the army, there are some 80 members of the Crossbow Corps. They show off their skills and hold competitions in the art of firing the heavy form of this ancient weapon at the Cava del Balestrieri. Their uniforms are traditional medieval in pattern. In addition to the military group San Marino also has a civilian association determined to keep…
