Palio

Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a comune against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate some event or tradition of the Middle Ages and thus often involve horse racing, archery, jousting, crossbow shooting, and similar medieval sports. Once purely a matter of local rivalries, many have now become events that are staged with an eye to visitors and foreign tourists.

The Palio di Siena in July 2010

The Palio di Siena is the only one that has been run without interruption since it started in the 1630s and is definitely the most famous all over the world. Its historical origins are documented since 1239 even though the version seen today was the final evolution of races held from the second half of the 16th century. In 1935, Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini sent out an official declaration that only the one of Siena could bring the designation of Palio. All other horse races held in various parts of Italy are actually just modern reenactments. After the Second World War, nevertheless, many other palios arose throughout the various regions of Italy, which could be considered just attempts of imitation of the Palio di Siena. Here is an incomplete list:

Italian Palios[]

Palios with horse races[]

Tuscany[]

of Bientina, third Sunday of July.
of Buti in honor of St. Anthony the Abbot,
of Castel del Piano, racing on September 8
, in Faella
the third Sunday of June
of Casole d'Elsa, Second Sunday of July
of Piancastagnaio
, at the end of May.
in Montelaterone
in Monticiano
Palio di Siena, race is held July 2 and August 16
in (suspended)
, a Faella, in Pian di Scò
in Pian di Scò, on August 7
in Follonica
in Impruneta in October

Lazio[]

of Ronciglione, a . In August
of Maccarese-Fiumicino, not held in 2008.
di Castel Madama, every second Sunday in July.
in Acquapendente.
in Bomarzo
in Priverno
of Tolfa last Sunday in August.
of Sacrofano, Second Sunday in September.
of Formello, on August 10.
, on September 22
in Capranica
in Campagnano di Roma
of Selci in September.
of Monterosi, on September 15
of Cori, in June and July.
in Carpineto Romano (RM).
Palio delle Quattro Porte – Vallecorsa

Lombardy[]

Palio di Legnano, Last Sunday in May
at Abbiategrasso
in Premosello
of Rho, Second Sunday in October.
at Caponago, second Sunday in September

Piedmont[]

Palio di Asti, every third Sunday In September
of Fossano, at the end of June.
, at Avigliana, Third Sunday in June

Sardinia[]

of Cagliari
of Fonni, First Sunday In June
of Goceano
, at Bono
of Sassari

Umbria[]

at Monteleone d'Orvieto, 16 August
in September

Veneto[]

First Sunday in August. Horse race and Archery contest
, at Montagnana, first Sunday in September
Second and Third Sunday in September.

Marche[]

di Fermo, on August 15
of Montegiorgio
also called Quintana in Ascoli Piceno
in Loreto, on September 7
a Corridonia, early September
di , early August
in San Severino Marche, early June.

Emilia-Romagna[]

, Last Sunday in May
, at Savigno in May.
in San Secondo Parmense
Palio di Parma,
, at Faenza
, at Giovecca
of Mordano

Sicily[]

of Butera
of Piazza Armerina, August 11 to 13.
in Floridia
, in Acate

Basilicata[]

in Pignola, on January 17, a race with Horses, donkeys and mules

Abruzzo[]

in Sulmona Last Saturday and Sunday of July
dei Borghi più Belli d'Italia – in Sulmona
d'Europa – Sulmona

Puglia[]

of Palo del Colle – held at carnival.

Palios with donkey races[]

Umbria[]

of Gualdo Tadino

Lombardy[]

Piedmont[]

Palio degli Asini di Alba in Alba
Palio degli Asini di Cocconato in Cocconato
Palio degli Asini di Quarto d'Asti in Quarto d'Asti
Paglio ragliante di Calliano in Calliano
in Venaria

Toscana[]

of , in September
of Pozzi, frazione di Seravezza
of , in September
of Bagnolo
of Torrita di Siena
of Montepulciano Stazione
of Roccatederighi
of Lugnano
of Vallerona

Campania[]

"", second Sunday in September^[1]
"", Palio Nazionale degli asini, Camposano
"", Cuccaro Vetere.

Lazio[]

, in Gonfalone di Arpino.
delle Contrade of Corchiano, First Sunday in August
of Allumiere
at Sora

Marche[]

in Mercatello sul Metauro

Emilia-Romagna[]

Palio di Parma,
dei somari of Grizzana Morandi

Friuli[]

Palio dei Borghi di Fagagna, second Sunday in September.

Palios with boat races (Palii remieri)[]

Tuscany[]

, in Porto Santo Stefano, August 15
of Calcinaia
, in Arno and Pisa on June 17
of Massaciuccoli, since 1967.

Liguria[]

, at La Spezia, first Sunday of August
, in Ventimiglia, second Sunday in August
, in Noli, Second Sunday in September

Apulia[]

of Taranto

Trentino[]

, in Trento

Veneto[]

, in Venice^[2]

Calabria[]

, in Reggio Calabria, on April 23

Lazio[]

of Gaeta

Palios with weapons[]

Tuscany[]

in Lucca, on July 12, a crossbow contest
in Pescia, an archery contest
in , an archery contest

Umbria[]

in Assisi, a crossbow competition
, in August, an archery contest

Lazio[]

of Orte, an archery contest

Friuli[]

, in Cividale del Friuli, last Sunday in August, an archery contest
of Cordovado, first Sunday of September, an archery contest with a medieval costume parade

Emilia-Romagna[]

, in Terra del Sole, a crossbow contest

Veneto[]

, in Chioggia, a crossbow contest.

References[]

^ [1]
^ Official website

External links[]

[1] [1]

[2] Official website

[1]

[2]