The Palio dei Somari is back – a wonderful and original event now in its 61st edition – with the following programme:
The Palio dei Somari, traditionally held on the second Sunday in August, is one of the town’s oldest festivals. Now in its 61st year, it is a light-hearted, village-style take on the famous Palio di Siena, but in this case the star of the show is the DONKEY, a notoriously stubborn animal, which never fails to surprise spectators every year, who come from far and wide to witness this entertaining event.
The festival, which began in the 1960s, takes the form of a historical re-enactment; indeed, over this weekend the entire mountain village is enveloped in a medieval atmosphere, with banners hanging from the windows, carts, parades in period costume and competitions, all in true medieval style – so much so that even the streets are transformed, as if transported back a few centuries, by being covered in sand.
The Palio takes the form of a donkey-riding competition in which eight contestants compete, and the winner will marry the daughter of Uguccione della Faggiola, a well-known lord of these lands in the 1200s.
The race features eight competitors representing eight districts, both from Alfero and beyond.
The evening concludes with a dance party at Parco del Casone.
For further information:
https://alfero.net/palio-dei-somari/
Pro Loco Alfero 0543-910106 -prolocoalfero@gmail.com