By Our Editorial Staff
The Palio di Valfabbrica, from 22 August to 1 September.
“Once upon a time… a center of medieval origin along the ancient road that connected Assisi to Gubbio, “In Vallis Fabricae” or better known as Valfabbrica. Here in the past there was the ancient Feast of the Holy Crucifix dedicated to medieval historical games. Since 1974 it has been known as the Autumn Festival or Palio di Valfabbrica – Giostra d’Italia where the historical re-enactment is carried out with meticulous care, articulated with facts, events and events that took place in the medieval period that gave birth to the territory of Valfabbrica”.
Now in its XLVIII edition, the Palio di Valfabbrica begins on Thursday 22 August, a complex event of which the joust is the driving event but which offers its guests a great variety of culture and emotions. Events and shows fill the evenings, the tavern offers an excellent service, and the districts work for months to build historical re-enactments to give the town and its visitors art and passion. Everything takes place while waiting for the last day which, with the knightly joust, assigns the coveted Palio to the colours of the most valiant of the districts.
The Palio di Valfabbrica stands out among the Italian medieval events for a particular characteristic: each district creates a medieval historical representation that takes us back in time, not only through a simple parade of costumes, but also through a narrative that develops in an engaging square show. Each district, in addition to exhibiting the usual banners, drummers, nobles and armed men, creates its own sets, choreography, scripts and acting, staging a real re-enactment.
During the week then we go ‘to discover the districts of Valfabbrica’ and every corner exudes history that many of its inhabitants preserve and enhance. Everyone actively participates with excursions through the streets and squares where visitors can wear historical costumes for the occasion, becoming nobles, ladies, commoners for a day.
On the last day, the Valfabbrica Games Field will be the scene of the Giostra d’Italia, the knightly challenge appreciated for its structure. A carousel that for its difficulty is the most complete and evocative in Italy. There will be three tests in which the riders will have to compete: the “race to the rings”, the “race of the saracen” and the “direct clash”. The joust, as a whole, rewards each rider with scores based on the lap times, thus allowing the development of interesting strategies where in the end the Palio is won by the one who first reaches the target which, once hit, cannot be hit by the other rider.
Many events are scheduled during the eleven days of programming and – in order not to miss a single one – we recommend that you consult the dedicated website, to fully enjoy this magnificent ‘medieval’ experience.
Info: www.paliodivalfabbrica.it
It’s a fantastic event that I will attend this year again.
Dear Salvatore, we will attend the event too! It is one of the best medieval festivals in Italy