Palio
Encyclopedia
- See Palio for the genus of seaslugs.
Palio is the name given in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
against each other. Typically they are fought in costume and commemorate some event or tradition of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, and thus often involve horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
, crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
shooting, and similar medieval sports. Once purely a matter of local rivalries, many have now become events staged with an eye to visitors and foreign tourists.
The oldest extant palio is the Palio di Asti
Palio di Asti
The Palio di Asti is a traditional Italian festival of medieval origin that culminates with a bareback horse race....
, but the Palio di Siena
Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is a horse race that is held twice each year, on July 2 and August 16, in Siena, Italy...
is better known internationally. There are many other palios that are held throughout the various regions of Italy. Here follows an incomplete list:
Tuscany
- Palio of BientinaBientinaBientina is a comune in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 km west of Florence and about 15 km east of Pisa....
, third Sunday of July. - Palio of ButiButiButi is a comune in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 km west of Florence and about 15 km east of Pisa...
in honor of St. Anthony the Abbot, - Palio di Castel del Piano, racing on September 8
- Palio delle Contrade, in Faella
- Palio dei Rioni di Castiglion Fiorentino the third Sunday of June
- Palio of Casole d'ElsaCasole d'ElsaCasole d'Elsa is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 km southwest of Florence and about 25 km west of Siena.-Main sights:...
, Second Sunday of July - Palio of PiancastagnaioPiancastagnaioPiancastagnaio is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 110 km southeast of Florence and about 60 km southeast of Siena.It is located on the Monte Amiata slopes....
- Palio di Fucecchio, at the end of May.
- Palio in Montelaterone
- Palio in MonticianoMonticianoMonticiano is a town and comune on the right bank of the Val di Merse, Tuscany, Italy, administratively part of the Province of Siena. It has 1,412 inhabitants as of December 31, 2004...
- Palio di SienaPalio di SienaThe Palio di Siena is a horse race that is held twice each year, on July 2 and August 16, in Siena, Italy...
, race is held July 2 and August 16 - Palio della Costa Etrusca in San Vincenzo (suspended)
- Palio del Valdarno, a Faella, in Pian di ScòPian di ScòPian di Scò is a comune in the Province of Arezzo in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 30 km southeast of Florence and about 35 km northwest of Arezzo, in the Valdarno....
- Palio in Pian di ScòPian di ScòPian di Scò is a comune in the Province of Arezzo in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 30 km southeast of Florence and about 35 km northwest of Arezzo, in the Valdarno....
, on August 7 - Palio delle Bandiere e dei Territori in FollonicaFollonicaFollonica is a town and comune of province of Grosseto in the Italian region of Tuscany, on the Gulf of Follonica , about 40 km NW of the city of Grosseto.-History:...
- Palio di San Luca in ImprunetaImprunetaImpruneta is a town and comune of the province of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany. The population is about 15,000.-Name and production:...
in October
Lazio
- Corsa a vuoto of RonciglioneRonciglioneRonciglione is a city and comune in the province of Viterbo, Lazio , c. 20 km from Viterbo. The city is located in the Cimini mountains, over two tuff scarps, on the SE slope of the former volcano crater now housing the Vico's Lake....
, a Carnival feast. In August - Palio del Tirreno of Maccarese-Fiumicino, not held in 2008.
- Palio Madama Margarita di Castel MadamaCastel MadamaCastel Madama is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Lazio, located about 30 km east of Rome.-External links:* *...
, every second Sunday in July. - Palio dell'Arcata in AcquapendenteAcquapendenteAcquapendente is a city and comune in the province of Viterbo, in Lazio . Acquapendente is an important centre for the agricultural production of vegetables and wine, and has a tradition of pottery craftmanship.-History:...
. - Palio in BomarzoBomarzoBomarzo is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo , in the lower valley of the Tiber. It is located 14.5 km ENE of Viterbo and 68 km NNW of Rome.-History:...
- Palio del Tributo in PrivernoPrivernoPriverno is a town and comune in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy.It has a station of the Rome-Naples railway mainline. Nearby is the Monti Lepini chain.-History:...
- Palio of TolfaTolfaTolfa is a town and comune of the province of Rome, in the Lazio region of central Italy; it lies to the ENE of Civitavecchia by road.It is the main center in the Monti della Tolfa, an extinct volcanic group between Civitavecchia and the Lake of Bracciano....
last Sunday in August. - Palio of SacrofanoSacrofanoSacrofano is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 25 km north of Rome. Located near the Monti Sabatini, at the feet of an extinct volcano, it is included in the Regional Park of Veii....
, Second Sunday in September. - Corsa of FormelloFormelloFormello is a town and comune in the province of Rome. It is located southwest of the Monti Sabatini, within the Regional Park of Veii. The communal territory is mostly composed by tuff, and is intensively cultivated. This town is known to be one of the few to have a football club in Serie A: S.S....
, on August 10. - Palio di San Matteo, on September 22
- Corsa al Fantino in Capranica
- Corsa in Campagnano di RomaCampagnano di RomaCampagnano di Roma is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 30 km northwest of Rome. It was first mentioned in 1076, having been carved out of the great estate assembled on the Roman pattern by Pope Adrian I, ca...
- Palio of SelciSelciSelci is a comune in the Province of Rieti in the Italian region Latium, located about 45 km north of Rome and about 25 km southwest of Rieti. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,038 and an area of 7.8 km²....
in September. - Corsa of MonterosiMonterosiMonterosi is a comune in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located about 40 Km north of GRA , about 40 km south of Viterbo at an elevation of 276 m ....
, on September 15 - Carosello Storico dei Rioni of Cori, in June and July.
- Pallio della Carriera in Carpineto RomanoCarpineto RomanoCarpineto Romano is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Lazio, located about 60 km southeast of Rome.It was the birthplace of Pope Leo XIII....
(RM). - Palio delle Quattro Porte - Vallecorsa
Lombardy
- Palio della Valle Olona
- Palio di Legnano, Last Sunday in May
- Palio di S.Pietro at AbbiategrassoAbbiategrassoAbbiategrasso is a comune and town in the province of Milan, Italian region of Lombardy, situated in the Po valley approximately 22 km from Milan and 38 km from Pavia.- History :The town dates from Roman times...
- Palio degli Asini in PremoselloPremosello-ChiovendaPremosello-Chiovenda is a comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 110 km northeast of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Verbania....
- Palio of RhoRhoRho is the 17th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 100. It is derived from Semitic resh "head"...
, Second Sunday in October. - Palio di Avucat at CaponagoCaponagoCaponago is a comune in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 12 km northeast of Milan.Caponago borders the following municipalities: Agrate Brianza, Cambiago, Pessano con Bornago, Carugate....
, second Sunday in September
Piedmont
- Palio di AstiPalio di AstiThe Palio di Asti is a traditional Italian festival of medieval origin that culminates with a bareback horse race....
, every third Sunday In September - Palio dei Borghi of FossanoFossanoFossano is a town and comune of Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Cuneo. It is the fourth largest town of the Province of Cuneo, after Cuneo, Alba and Bra....
, at the end of June. - Palio storico dei Borghi di Avigliana, at AviglianaAviglianaAvigliana is a town and comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, with c. 11,000 inhabitants, located about 25 km west of Turin. Avigliana lies in the Susa valley, on the highway going from Turin to Frejus ....
, Third Sunday in June
Sardinia
- Palio of CagliariCagliariCagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
- Palio dei Comuni of FonniFonniFonni is a town and comune in Sardinia, in the province of Nuoro .It is the highest town in Sardinia, and situated among fine scenery with some chestnut woods. Fonni is a winter sports centre with a ski lift to Monte Spada and Bruncu Spina....
, First Sunday In June - Palio dei Comuni of GoceanoGoceanoThe Goceano is a historical and geographical region of center-north of Sardinia island, Italy.It covers a surface of 480 km² and has a population of 13,000 inhabitants...
- Palio "Sas Carrelas", at BonoBonoPaul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
- Palio of SassariSassariSassari is an Italian city. It is the second-largest city of Sardinia in terms of population with about 130,000 inhabitants, or about 300,000 including the greater metropolitan area...
Umbria
- Palio (Giostra) del Giglio at Monteleone d'OrvietoMonteleone d'OrvietoMonteleone d'Orvieto is a comune in the Province of Terni in the Italian region Umbria, located about 35 km southwest of Perugia and about 60 km northwest of Terni.-History:...
, 16 August - Palio di Nera Montoro in September
Veneto
- Palio di Feltre First Sunday in August. Horse race and Archery contest
- Palio dei 10 Comuni del Montagnanese, first Sunday in September
- Palio delle contrade di Monselice Second and Third Sunday in September.
Marche
- Palio dell'Assunta di FermoFermoFermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
, on August 15 - Palio of MontegiorgioMontegiorgioMontegiorgio is a comune in the Province of Fermo in the Italian region Marche, located about 70 km south of Ancona and about 80 km north of Ascoli Piceno...
- Palio of Sant'Emidio also called Quintana in Ascoli PicenoAscoli PicenoAscoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
- Corsa del Drappo in LoretoLoreto (AN)Loreto is a hilltown and comune of the Italian province of Ancona, in the Marche. It is mostly famous as the seat of the Basilica della Santa Casa, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.-Location:...
, on September 7 - Contesa della Margutta a CorridoniaCorridoniaCorridonia is a comune in the Province of Macerata in the Italian region Marche, located about 40 km south of Ancona and about 8 km southeast of Macerata.Corridonia was called, until 1931, Pausula...
, early September
Emilia Romagna
- Palio di Ferrara, Last Sunday in May
- Palio del Maggio, at SavignoSavignoSavigno is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 25 km southwest of Bologna. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,679 and an area of 54.8 km²....
in May. - Palio delle contrade in San Secondo ParmenseSan Secondo ParmenseSan Secondo Parmense is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 200 km northwest of Bologna and about 15 km northwest of Parma....
- Palio di Parma,
- Palio del Niballo, at FaenzaFaenzaFaenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
- Palio di Giovecca, at Giovecca
- Palio of MordanoMordanoMordano is a town and comune in Emilia Romagna , situated in the province of Bologna....
Sicily
- Palio of ButeraButeraButera is an Italian town and comune in the province of Caltanissetta, in the southwestern part of the island of Sicily. It is bounded by the comuni of Gela, Licata, Mazzarino, Ravanusa and Riesi. It has population of 5,063 and is far from Caltanissetta, the province's capital....
- Palio of Piazza ArmerinaPiazza ArmerinaPiazza Armerina is an Italian comune in the province of Enna of the autonomous island region of Sicily.-History:...
, August 11 to 13. - Palio dell'Ascensione in FloridiaFloridiaFloridia is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily .-Geography:Floridia lies 12 km west of Syracuse...
- Palio di San Vincenzo, in AcateAcateAcate is a small town and comune in the south of Sicily, Italy, part of the province of Ragusa. It is located in the Dirillo River valley, 34 kilometers from Ragusa....
Basilicata
- Palio di Sant'Antonio abate in PignolaPignolaPignola is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.Pinot Noir from this region is commonly bottled under the Pignola label....
, on January 17, a race with Horses, donkeys and mules
Abruzzo
- Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca in SulmonaSulmonathumb|150px|Celestine V's hermitage and the remains of the Shrine of Hercules Curinus.thumb|150px|Palazzo SS. Annunziata and Museo Civicothumb|150px|Church of SS...
Last Saturday and Sunday of July - Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca dei Borghi più Belli d'Italia - in SulmonaSulmonathumb|150px|Celestine V's hermitage and the remains of the Shrine of Hercules Curinus.thumb|150px|Palazzo SS. Annunziata and Museo Civicothumb|150px|Church of SS...
- Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca d'Europa - SulmonaSulmonathumb|150px|Celestine V's hermitage and the remains of the Shrine of Hercules Curinus.thumb|150px|Palazzo SS. Annunziata and Museo Civicothumb|150px|Church of SS...
Lombardy
- Corsa cogli Asini of DairagoDairagoDairago is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km northwest of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 4,813 and an area of 5.6 km²....
- Palio degli Asini in BereguardoBereguardoBereguardo is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southwest of Milan and about 12 km northwest of Pavia....
- Palio del Cinghiale, in Cesano BosconeCesano BosconeCesano Boscone is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 6 km southwest of Milan.Cesano Boscone borders the following municipalities: Milan, Corsico, Trezzano sul Naviglio.-Main sights:...
Piedmont
- Palio degli Asini in Alba
- Palio dei Borghi in Venaria
Toscana
- Palio dei Ciuchi of Campagnatico, in September
- Palio dei Micci of Pozzi, frazione di Seravezza
- Palio dei somari of Torrita di SienaTorrita di SienaTorrita di Siena is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 80 km southeast of Florence and about 40 km southeast of Siena....
- Palio dei Ciuchi of Carmignano , in September
- Palio dei Somari of Montepulciano Stazione
- Giostra dei sestrieri, Palio dei Ciuchi of Roccatederighi
- Palio de' Ciui of Lugnano
- Palio dei somarelli of Vallerona at RoccalbegnaRoccalbegnaRoccalbegna is a comune in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 110 km south of Florence and about 35 km east of Grosseto.left|thumb|The Castle of Triana.-History:...
Campania
- "Il Palio di Somma Vesuviana", second Sunday in September http://www.paliodisommavesuviana.it
- "Palio del casale", Palio Nazionale degli asini, CamposanoCamposanoCamposano is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 25 km northeast of Naples...
- "Palio del ciuccio", Cuccaro VetereCuccaro VetereCuccaro Vetere is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....
.
Lazio
- Palio delle Contrade, in Gonfalone di Arpino.
- Palio delle Contrade of CorchianoCorchianoCorchiano is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, Lazio, Italy. It was an ancient settlement of the Faliscans and, in the Renaissance and later, a fief of the Farnese family.The local produce is hazelnuts and wine...
, First Sunday in August - Palio delle Contrade of AllumiereAllumiereAllumiere is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 60 km northwest of Rome.Allumiere is traditionally divided into the contrade of Burò, Ghetto, La Bianca, Nona, Polveriera, and Sant'Antonio....
- Palio di San Ciro at SoraSora, ItalySora is a city and comune of Lazio, Italy, in the province of Frosinone. It is built in a plain on the banks of the Liri. This part of the valley is the seat of some important manufactures, especially of paper-mills....
Emilia - Romagna
- Palio di Ferrara
- Palio di ParmaParmaParma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, - Palio dei somariSomariSomari is an unlicensed port of Sega's flagship video game Sonic the Hedgehog, produced for the Nintendo Famicom and sold primarily around Asia, Russia, and other regions where pirate Famicom cartridges were distributed, in 1994. The game features a character named "Somari" - Nintendo mascot Mario...
of Grizzana MorandiGrizzana MorandiGrizzana Morandi is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 30 km southwest of Bologna...
Tuscany
- Palio dell'Argentario, in Porto Santo StefanoPorto Santo StefanoPorto Santo Stefano is located in the municipality of Monte Argentario, in the Province of Grosseto, in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is one of the 2 major towns that form the townships along with Porto Ercole.-Position:...
, August 15 - Palio di Calcinaia of CalcinaiaCalcinaiaCalcinaia is a comune and town in the province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 km west of Florence and about 20 km east of Pisa....
- Palio di San Ranieri, in ArnoArnoThe Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.- Source and route :The river originates on Mount Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines, and initially takes a southward curve...
and PisaPisaPisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
on June 17 - Palio Madonna del Lago of Massaciuccoli, since 1967.
Liguria
- Palio del Golfo, at La SpeziaLa SpeziaLa Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
, first Sunday of August - Palio dei Sestieri, in VentimigliaVentimigliaVentimiglia is a city and comune in Liguria, northern Italy, in the province of Imperia. It is located southwest of Genoa by rail, and 7 km from the French-Italian border, on the Gulf of Genoa, having a small harbour at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts...
, second Sunday in August - Regata dei Rioni di Noli, in NoliNoliNoli |Ligurian]] Nöi ) is a coast comune of Liguria, Italy, in the Province of Savona, it is about SW of Genoa by rail, about 4 m above sea-level. It has a population of 2,957. In 1901, it had a population of 1,985...
, Second Sunday in September
Tuscany
- Palio della balestra in LuccaLuccaLucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, on July 12. It is a crossbow contest. - Palio in PesciaPesciaPescia is an Italian city in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy.It is located in a central zone between the cities Lucca and Florence, on the banks of the homonymous river.-History:...
. An archery contest. - Disfida con l'Arco in Montopoli in Val d'Arno (Pi). An archery contest.
Umbria
- Palio di San Rufino in AssisiAssisi- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
, crossbow competition - Palio dei Terzieri, in August. It is an archery contest.
Friuli
- Palio di San Donato, in Cividale del FriuliCividale del Friuli-External links:*...
, last Sunday in August. Archery contest - Palio of ordovado], first Sunday of September. Archery contest with medieval costume parade
Emilia - Romagna
- Palio di Santa Reparata e della Romagna Toscana, in Terra del SoleTerra del SoleTerra del Sole was a town constructed in 1564 for Cosimo I de’ Medici by Baldassarre Lanci of Urbino, in what is now the Province of Forlì-Cesena, northern Italy. It was one of the first fortified cities to be constructed entirely from new on a planned grid system...
it is a crossbow contest
External links
- Riderless Palio
- Giostra del Saracino
- Palio of Asti
- Palio of Siena
- Palio of Ferrara
- Palio dei Rioni, Castiglion Fiorentino
- Palio Madama Margarita
- Palio of Legnano
- Palio della balestra Volterra
- Certame della Contea di Popoli
- Palio of San Rufino
- Palio dei 10 Comuni
- Ottava di S. Egidio - Palio of archery