May is a month full of tradition, with some countries marking occasions such as International Workers’ Day.
In the Italian city of Ferrara, the traditional celebrations go on for the whole month, with the Palio Di Ferrara taking over the city.
A tradition that takes place at different times throughout Italy, a palio is an annual athletic contest.
A palio can take many different forms, depending on which town or village you’re in, but they are generally contests fought in traditional dress and can involve horse racing, archery, jousting and even crossbow shooting.
During a palio, different neighbourhoods compete against each other in what was once a heated contest of local rivalries. These days, however, palios are a far friendlier affair – designed to enthrall and entertain spectators.
The Palio Di Ferrara is the oldest in the world, with its origins dating back to 1259 when Novello D’Este’s victory over Ezzelino da Romano was celebrated in the city.
More than 750 years later, the Palio Di Ferrara has become a key event in the city’s calendar. As part of the celebrations, events are held every weekend throughout Ferrara.
The world’s oldest palio kicks off this weekend, with processions from eight districts descending on the city’s Cathedral.
The procession will include dancers, musicians, flag-wavers and knights all making their way to the Cathedral for the Blessing of the Palio.
Each weekend after that, the palio is pure competition. Contests include traditional flag-throwing games, with dancers and musicians from different districts pitted against each other.
The final Sunday in May sees the culmination of the Palio Di Ferrara, when the traditional donkey and horse races are held at the Piazzo Ariostea.
Italy is steeped in tradition, and there’s no better example of this than palios. So, for a taste of Italian history, not to mention some healthy competition, head over to Ferrara this month!
