The Palio di Legnano is the set of events commemorating the Battle of Legnano which every year fills the city with a unique atmosphere.
The festival begins with a wonderful historical procession with medieval clothes, hand-sewn by the tailor’s shop of each district, and then continues with the exciting horse race, made up of three batteries, in which the eight districts of the city compete.
There is no shortage of collateral events and initiatives such as “Manieri Aperti” and “Castello in Festa” with the re-enactment of the ancient medieval camps.
The Palio of Legnano represents the set of events commemorating the Battle of Legnano which, on 29 May 1176, saw the victory of the allied municipalities in the Lombard League over the imperial army of Frederick I known as Barbarossa. Tradition dictates that every year, on the last Sunday of May, there is a commemoration of this historical event.
The historical parade
The most significant moment with a program full of events in Piazza Carroccio with the departure of the evocative historical parade.
There are over a thousand participants who wear costumes and carry objects made according to the requirements of a special commission which evaluates the relevance of the dress and tools with the medieval period represented.
Each district in the historical carousel that winds through the streets of the city, from the center to the sports field, home of the horse race, plays a theme, that is, it represents through its figures < strong>an aspect of life in the Middle Ages which could be that of armed men, nobles, courtiers, musicians and jugglers, peasant work or magic.
The procession is closed by the Carroccio, the float symbolizing municipal freedoms in the face of imperial power.
Historical carousel – Horse Palio
The horse race of the districts is the most exciting and spectacular moment of the festival.
The “G. Stadium Mari” will be the stage of the Historical Carousel of the Eight Contrade, a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the history and identity of the different Legnano communities.
A race with jockeys hired by the districts who ride bareback. It is divided into two preliminary heats of four laps each (the race ring measures 240 metres) and a final (of five laps) to which the first two places in each heat enter.
The day will culminate with the Honors to the Carroccio, the spectacular Charge of the Company of Death and the Palio,
Over the years, the festival has increased the number of events present
The cross of Ariberto is the coveted “prize” that the district wins by winning the palio and which it has the right to keep for an entire year inside its church.
In the following Palio it is returned (Traslazione) and the districts compete for it again in the horse race.
Propitiatory Dinner
Of great attraction is the propitiatory dinner on the eve (by reservation – see the events page of the official website), which is organized the evening before the palio and which is greeted by the district dressed up for a party, in which hundreds of contrada members and the jockey who will run the horse race participate.
WHEN
This event generally takes place every last Sunday in May
Paid Event
For information, dates and events, visit the site indicated at the end of the article
The reported events may be subject to changes or cancellations.
It is always advisable to inquire in advance to confirm the event and the dates
Palio di Legnano
Legnano (Milan)
Lombardy – Italy
youtube Video Palio di Legnano
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