PALIO OF FERRARA

The Palio of Ferrara has been a tradition rooted in the heart of the Ferrara people for hundreds of years. A tradition that was born in the thirteenth century and continues to the present day, albeit with various interruptions and changes. There are in fact three different phases that the Palio goes through: medieval, twentieth century, twenty-first century.

At each stage, something has changed, but what has always remained is the spirit of celebration and conviviality that is created during the celebrations and competitions. Each contrada competes in the races of cherubs, children under 15, horse and donkey races.

But the Palio is only the culmination of what is an entire month of medieval re-enactments. It is indeed true that the competitions between the eight city districts take place on the last Sunday of May, but it is also true that during all the weekends preceding, the city is permeated with parades commemorating the medieval era, in which the flag-wavers can be admired, carrying the flags with the coat of arms of the district to which they belong, the ladies and knights complete with sumptuous clothes and shining armor, the band composed of winds and percussion, and symbolic figures such as angels or seers.

The famous districts of Ferrara are in fact eight, and are in turn divided into districts and villages. To clarify, the districts are the districts that are geographically located within the medieval walls of the city, and are Rione San Benedetto, Rione San Paolo, Rione Santa Maria in Vado, and Rione Santo Spirito. Contrary, therefore, the villages are located outside the city walls and are Borgo San Giacomo, Borgo San Giorgio, Borgo San Giovanni, and Borgo San Luca.

Since mid-May, in Piazza Trento Trieste, the main square of Ferrara, the plank is set up with scenes that reproduce fights, markets with goods that refer to the medieval style and scenographic initiatives always in line with the era in which the Palio was born . But the Palio does not take place only in Piazza Trento Trieste, as the parades take place along the main streets, such as Corso della Giovecca and Corso Ercole I D'Este, while the competitions of cherubs, donkeys and horses take place at Piazza Ariostea.
Therefore the Palio of Ferrara is a great way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of another era, admiring clothes, costumes, traditions, parades, music, fights, challenges and markets, and at the same time visiting the beauties of a city that is a heritage of the UNESCO since 1995 thanks to its history and beauty.

What are you waiting for! At the Hotel Lucrezia Borgia we will be happy to host you on weekends of splendor and history this May, as well as in future ones! Click this link and come and visit us in the month of the Palio.