With six districts contending for the Palio (prize banner) on the back of a donkey, the historical procession in 16th century costume and the carroccio (4-wheeled war altar) pulled by Maremma oxen, the Palio delle Contrade has passed its 50th birthday in Allumiere (Rome), a delightful village on Mount Elceto (Tolfa mountains) an hour and a half from Rome.
The Palio delle Contrade dates back to the beginning of the 1500s, when the Sienese Agostino Chigi, contractor of the alum mines from which Allumiere takes its name, replicated Siena’s typical folk event with donkey races in the large piazza in front of the building.
Other towns in Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany are also involved, for costumes, donkeys and flag-wavers.
Since 1965, the Palio delle Contrade begins on the first Sunday after August 15 in honour of the patron saint of the village, Our Lady of the Assumption in Heaven.
Saturday is the “provaccia”, the trial run for the donkeys in the race on Sunday morning at the Palio, which begins after Mass, after the blessing of donkeys and their “punzatura” (numbering).
The historical parade in 16th century costume involves over two hundred people: dames, knights, armigers, jockeys, flag bearers, trumpeters and drummers representing the six Contrade or districts contending for the Palio in Piazza della Repubblica. During the parade, the performance of the sbandieratori involves the youth of Allumiere dressed as standard-bearers in the colours of their districts.
Each district prepares a stage and, with choirs, songs and mockery, the donkey race (bareback) is run for the palio or Cencio (rag), handmade by local painters on all sorts of subjects.
Once the “cencio” has been awarded, the party continues until late into the night in the piazza of the winning district. The six districts of Allumiere, Ghetto, Burò, Polveriera, La Bianca, Nona and Sant’Antonio, organize tastings of typical local products with music and folk dancing.
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