The tradition of the Palio was uninterrupted until 1860 and only great wars or natural disasters prevented its taking place. It had great fame during the dukedom period.
Usually they competed in the Palio both on the 24th of April to celebrate Saint George, the patron of the town, and on 15th of August for the Virgin Mary Feast, but there were a lot of special editions organized to celebrate important events.
We have significant testimonies about its past from a lot of chroniclers of the period. Even the great Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto wrote about the Palio of Ferrara in his masterpiece Orlando Furioso, and the famous painter Francesco del Cossa frescoed the walls of Schifanoia Palace in Ferrara with scenes of the Palio.
Beside being part of the Palio, the people forming the Historical procession have been present at numerous folk shows, in Italy and abroad as well, making themselves admired expecially for their beautiful costumes and the skill of the sbandieratori.
For this reason all the costumes are made according to the period's style.
The races are run in the historical Piazza Ariostea - the former Piazza Nuova - a square rounded by numerous buildings which have a great architectural value. The whole square was planned by Biagio Rossetti, the forerunner of the modern urbanists.
The Palio is based on four races:
Race run by boys | Palio di San Romano |
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Race run by girls | Palio di San Paolo |
She-ass race | Palio di San Maurelio |
Horse race | Palio di San Giorgio |
These Palios are banners of silk cloth, painted by well-known painters of Ferrara, which are given as prizes to the winners of the four races.
The eight `Contrade' (quarters) which compete in the Palio are called
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Saturday, May 14
Corso della Giovecca -> Corso Martiri -> Torre dell'Orologio - h 21:00
Historical Procession - Oath of the Contrade
Sunday, May 15
Corso della Giovecca -> Corso Martiri -> Torre dell'Orologio - h 18:30
Blessing of the Palios and Offering of the Candles
The cerimony of the offering of the candles and the blessing of the Palios.
All the Contrade and the Court are present.
Saturday, May 21
Piazza del Municipio - h 15:00 and 20:00
Tournament of the Antique Games of the Estense's Flags
Youth Tournament
Sunday, May 22
Piazza del Municipio - h 16:00
Tournament of the Antique Games of the Estense's Flags
Friday, May 27
Piazza Ariostea - h 09:30 and 18:00
Compulsory trial runs of the horses
Saturday, May 28
Piazza Ariostea - h 10:00 and 18:00
Compulsory trial runs of the horses
Sunday, May 29
Piazza Ariostea - h 15:30
The Palio of Ferrara
Race run by boys | Corsa dei Putti | San Giacomo |
Race run by girls | Corsa delle Putte | San Paolo |
She-ass race | Corsa delle Asine | San Benedetto |
Horse race | Corsa dei Cavalli | San Luca |