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 Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

archery Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In m ...

, 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. Palio di Siena 2 luglio 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 Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...

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

* Palio of Bientina, third Sunday of July. * Palio of Buti in honor of

St. Anthony the Abbot Anthony the Great ( grc-gre, Ἀντώνιος ''Antṓnios''; ar, القديس أنطونيوس الكبير; la, Antonius; ; c. 12 January 251 – 17 January 356), was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is d ...

, * Palio di Castel del Piano of

Castel del Piano Castel del Piano is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) of Province of Grosseto in the Tuscany, central Italy. History The area of Castel del Piano is known to have been inhabited in prehistoric times, but the town itself is mentioned for th ...

, racing on September 8 *

Palio delle Contrade 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 som ...

, in

Faella Faella is a frazione of Pian di Scò in the Province of Arezzo in the Italy, Italian region Tuscany, located about 30 km southeast of Florence and about 35 km northwest of Arezzo, in the Valdarno. Faella borders the following municipa ...

* Palio dei Rioni di Castiglion Fiorentino the third Sunday of June * Palio of

Casole d'Elsa Casole d'Elsa �kaːzoleis a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southwest of Florence and about west of Siena. Main sights The church of ''San Niccolò'', of Romanesque origin, has ...

, Second Sunday of July * Palio of Piancastagnaio * Palio di Fucecchio, at the end of May. * Palio in Montelaterone * Palio in Monticiano * Palio di Siena, race is held July 2 and August 16 * Palio della Costa Etrusca in San Vincenzo (suspended) * Palio del Valdarno, a

, in Pian di Scò * Palio in Pian di Scò, on August 7 * Palio delle Bandiere e dei Territori in Follonica *

Palio di San Luca 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 som ...

in Impruneta in October

Lazio

Corsa a vuoto The Opel Corsa is a supermini car engineered and produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel since 1982. Throughout its existence, it has been sold under a variety of other brands owned by General Motors (most notably Vauxhall, Chevrolet ...

of Ronciglione, a Carnival feast. In August *

Palio del Tirreno 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 som ...

of Maccarese- Fiumicino, not held in 2008. * Palio Madama Margarita di

Castel Madama Castel Madama is a (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region of Lazio, located about east of Rome. International relations Castel Madama is twinned with: * Oudenaarde Oudenaarde (; french: Audenarde ; in English ...

, every second Sunday in July. * Palio dell'Arcata in Acquapendente. * Palio in Bomarzo * Palio del Tributo in Priverno * Palio of Tolfa last Sunday in August. * Palio of Sacrofano, Second Sunday in September. * Corsa of Formello, on August 10. *

Palio di San Matteo 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 som ...

, on September 22 * Corsa al Fantino in Capranica * Corsa in

Campagnano di Roma Campagnano di Roma is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about northwest of Rome. It was first mentioned in 1076, having been carved out of the great estate assembled on the Roman p ...

* Palio of

Selci Selci may refer to: * Selci, Italy, a municipality in Rieti, Lazio * Selci, Struga, a village in North Macedonia * Selci, Bizovac, a village near Bizovac, Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia * Selci Đakovački, a village in Osijek-Baranja County, Cr ...

in September. * Corsa of Monterosi, on September 15 *

Carosello Storico dei Rioni ''Carosello'' () was an Italian television advertising show broadcast on RAI from 1957 to 1977. The series mainly showed short sketch comedy films using live action, various types of animation, and puppetry. It had an audience of about 20 milli ...

Cori Cori or CORI may refer to: * Cori cycle, the metabolic pathway where lactic acid produced in the muscles is converted into glucose in the liver * Cori (lunar crater) * Cori, a crater on Venus * Cori (name) * ''Cori, de Scheepsjongen'' (''Cori, the ...

, in June and July. * Pallio della Carriera in

Carpineto Romano Carpineto Romano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region Lazio, located about southeast of Rome. It is the birthplace of Pope Leo XIII. Carpineto Romano borders the following municipalities: Bassian ...

( RM). * Palio delle Quattro Porte – Vallecorsa

Lombardy

* Palio della Valle Olona * Palio di Legnano, Last Sunday in May *

Palio di S.Pietro 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 som ...

at Abbiategrasso * Palio degli Asini in Premosello * Palio of Rho, Second Sunday in October. * Palio di Avucat at Caponago, second Sunday in September

Piedmont

Palio di Asti The Palio di Asti (or ''Palio Astese'' in its most archaic nomenclature) is a traditional Italian festival of medieval origin that culminates with a bareback horse race. The race has been run each year since the 13th century. The earliest record, ...

, every third Sunday In September * Palio dei Borghi of Fossano, at the end of June. * Palio storico dei Borghi di Avigliana, at Avigliana, Third Sunday in June

Sardinia

* Palio of

Cagliari Cagliari (, also , , ; sc, Casteddu ; lat, Caralis) is an Italian municipality and the capital of the island of Sardinia, an autonomous region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name ''Casteddu'' means ''castle''. It has about 155,000 inhabitant ...

* Palio dei Comuni of Fonni, First Sunday In June * Palio dei Comuni of Goceano * Palio "Sas Carrelas", at

Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...

* Palio of

Sassari Sassari (, ; sdc, Sàssari ; sc, Tàtari, ) is an Italian city and the second-largest of Sardinia in terms of population with 127,525 inhabitants, and a Functional Urban Area of about 260,000 inhabitants. One of the oldest cities on the island, ...

Umbria

* Palio (Giostra) del Giglio at Monteleone d'Orvieto, 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 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 som ...

, at

Montagnana Montagnana is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Padova, in Veneto (northern Italy). Neighbouring communes are Borgo Veneto, Casale di Scodosia, Urbana, Bevilacqua, Pojana Maggiore, Pressana, Minerbe and Roveredo di Guà. , the populati ...

, first Sunday in September * Palio delle contrade di Monselice Second and Third Sunday in September.

Marche

* Palio dell'Assunta di Fermo, on August 15 * Palio of Montegiorgio * Palio of Sant'Emidio also called ''Quintana'' in

Ascoli Piceno Ascoli Piceno (; la, Asculum; dialetto ascolano: Ascule) is a town and ''comune'' in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is around 46,000 but the urban area of the city has more than 93,000. Geo ...

* Corsa del Drappo in Loreto, on September 7 * Contesa della Margutta a Corridonia, early September * Palio della miniera di zolfo di Cabernardi, early August *

Palio dei Castelli 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 som ...

in San Severino Marche, early June.

Emilia-Romagna

Palio di Ferrara 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 som ...

, Last Sunday in May *

Palio del Maggio 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 som ...

, at

Savigno Savigno is a ''frazione'' of the ''comune'' (municipality) of Valsamoggia in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about southwest of Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; ...

in May. *

Palio delle contrade 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 som ...

San Secondo Parmense San Secondo Parmense ( Sansecondino: or ; Parmigiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about northwest of Parma. San Secondo Parmense borders ...

Palio di Parma The Palio di Parma is a festival that is held once a year in the northern Italian town of Parma, and traces back to the ancient "Scarlet Run".

, *

Palio del Niballo 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 som ...

, at

Faenza Faenza (, , ; rgn, Fènza or ; la, Faventia) is an Italian city and comune of 59,063 inhabitants in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated southeast of Bologna. Faenza is home to a historical manufacture of majolica-ware glazed eart ...

* Palio di Giovecca, at Giovecca * Palio of Mordano

Sicily

* Palio of Butera * Palio of Piazza Armerina, August 11 to 13. *

Palio dell'Ascensione 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 som ...

in Floridia *

Palio di San Vincenzo 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 som ...

, in Acate

Basilicata

* Palio di Sant'Antonio abate in

Pignola Pignola is an Italian town in the province of Potenza in Basilicata. It borders to the east with Anzi, to the south-west with Abriola, to the west with Tito and to the north with Potenza Potenza (, also , ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') i ...

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

Abruzzo

Palio della Giostra Cavalleresca 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 s ...

in Sulmona Last Saturday and Sunday of July *

dei Borghi più Belli d'Italia – in Sulmona *

d'Europa – Sulmona

Puglia

* Palio del Viccio of

Palo del Colle Palo del Colle ( Palese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located ...

– held at carnival.

Palios with donkey races

Umbria

* Giochi de le Porte of Gualdo Tadino

Lombardy

Corsa cogli Asini The Opel Corsa is a supermini car engineered and produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel since 1982. Throughout its existence, it has been sold under a variety of other brands owned by General Motors (most notably Vauxhall Motors, Va ...

Dairago Dairago ( lmo, Dairagh or , ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan. Dairago borders the following municipalities: Busto Arsizio, Legnano, Magnago, Vill ...

* Palio degli Asini in Bereguardo * Palio del Cinghiale, in

Cesano Boscone Cesano Boscone ( lmo, Cesan ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southwest of Milan. Cesano Boscone borders the following municipalities: Milan, Corsico, Trezzano sul Nav ...

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 * Palio dei Borghi in

Venaria Venaria Reale ( pms, La Venerìa) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about northwest of Turin. Venaria Reale borders the municipalities of Robassomero, Caselle Torinese, Druent ...

Toscana

Palio dei Ciuchi 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 som ...

Campagnatico Campagnatico is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about south of Florence and about northeast of Grosseto in the valley of the Ombrone River. History The town was founded as a fief of ...

, in September * Palio dei Micci of Pozzi, frazione di Seravezza *

of Carmignano, in September *

Palio dei somari 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 som ...

of Bagnolo *

Torrita di Siena Torrita di Siena is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about southeast of Florence and about southeast of Siena. Torrita di Siena borders the following municipalities: Cortona, Montep ...

Palio dei Somari 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 som ...

of Montepulciano Stazione * Giostra dei sestrieri, Palio dei Ciuchi of Roccatederighi * Palio de' Ciui of Lugnano *

Palio dei somarelli 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 som ...

Vallerona Vallerona is a village in Tuscany, central Italy, administratively a frazione of the comune of Roccalbegna, province of Grosseto, in the southern area of Mount Amiata. At the time of the 2001 census its population amounted to 219.Il Palio di Somma Vesuviana", second Sunday in September * "

Palio del casale 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 som ...

", Palio Nazionale degli asini, Camposano * " Palio del ciuccio",

Cuccaro Vetere Cuccaro Vetere ( Cilentan: ''Cuccare'') is a town and '' comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. References Cities and towns in Campania Localities of Cilento {{Campania-geo-stub ...

Lazio

, in Gonfalone di Arpino. * Palio delle Contrade of Corchiano, First Sunday in August *

Allumiere Allumiere (Romanesco dialect, Romanesco: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italy, Italian region Latium, located about northwest of Rome. Allumiere is traditionally divided into the ''contrada, contrade'' of ...

* Palio di San Ciro at Sora

Marche

Palio del Somaro 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 som ...

in Mercatello sul Metauro

Emilia-Romagna

Palio di Parma The Palio di Parma is a festival that is held once a year in the northern Italian town of Parma, and traces back to the ancient "Scarlet Run".

, * Palio dei somari of Grizzana Morandi

Friuli

* Palio dei Borghi di Fagagna, second Sunday in September.

Palios with boat races (''Palii remieri'')

Tuscany

Palio dell'Argentario 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 som ...

, in Porto Santo Stefano, August 15 * Palio di Calcinaia of Calcinaia *

Palio di San Ranieri 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 som ...

, in Arno and

Pisa Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...

on June 17 * Palio Madonna del Lago of Massaciuccoli, since 1967.

Liguria

Palio Marinaro di San Pietro The Palio Marinaro di San Pietro is a sporting event of historical re-enactment, established in 1955. History The Palio founded in 1955 just like the Regatta of the Historical Marine Republics. The Comune of Genoa equipped each of the coastal ...

, at Genoa, first Sunday of July *

Palio del Golfo 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 som ...

, at

La Spezia La Spezia (, or , ; in the local Spezzino dialect) is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the southern part of the Liguria region of Italy. La Spezia is the second largest city ...

, first Sunday of August * Palio dei Sestieri, in Ventimiglia, second Sunday in August * Regata dei Rioni di Noli, in Noli, Second Sunday in September

Apulia

* Palio of Taranto

Trentino

* Palio dell'Oca, in Trento

Veneto

Regata Storica The Fiat Regata is an automobile produced by Italian automaker Fiat Automobiles, Fiat from 1983 until 1990. The Regata name was used for the sedan (car), sedan and station wagon versions of the Fiat Ritmo hatchback, corresponding to the post-face ...

, in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

Official website
/ref>

Calabria

Palio di San Giorgio 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 som ...

, in

Reggio Calabria Reggio di Calabria ( scn, label= Southern Calabrian, Riggiu; el, label= Calabrian Greek, Ρήγι, Rìji), usually referred to as Reggio Calabria, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, is the largest city in Calabria. It has an estimated popul ...

, on April 23

Lazio

* Palio del mare of

Gaeta Gaeta (; lat, Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The town has played a consp ...

Palios with weapons

Tuscany

* Palio della balestra in Lucca, on July 12, a crossbow contest * Palio in Pescia, an archery contest * Disfida con l'Arco in Montopoli in Val d'Arno (Pi), an archery contest * Palio del Diotto in Scarperia, on September 8 (one of the games is a knife-throwing)

Umbria

* Palio di San Rufino in

Assisi Assisi (, also , ; from la, Asisium) is a town and ''comune'' of Italy in the Province of Perugia in the Umbria region, on the western flank of Monte Subasio. It is generally regarded as the birthplace of the Latin poet Propertius, born aroun ...

, a crossbow competition *

Palio dei Terzieri 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 som ...

, in August, an archery contest

Lazio

* Palio of Orte, an archery contest

Friuli

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

Emilia-Romagna

* Palio di Santa Reparata e della Romagna Toscana, in Terra del Sole, a crossbow contest

Veneto

Palio della Marciliana 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 som ...

, in Chioggia, a crossbow contest.

References

External links

{{Commons category, Palios
Il Palio Di Siena Official SiteIl Palio Di Siena English SiteGiostra del SaracinoPalio of AstiPalio of SienaPalio of FerraraPalio dei Rioni, Castiglion FiorentinoPalio Madama MargaritaPalio of LegnanoPalio della balestra VolterraCertame della Contea di PopoliPalio of San RufinoPalio dei 10 ComuniOttava di S. Egidio – Palio of archery
Tourism in Italy Italian traditions Festivals in Italy Sports originating in Italy