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Palio di Asti

The ancient course of the Palio, from an 18th-century engraving. The ancient church of San Lazzaro and the cippo del pilone (stone pylon - the starting point of the race) are visible in the background; San Secondo of Asti, to whom the race is dedicated, is in the center, and in the foreground two competitors are about to enter the city through the gate of San Pietro.

The Palio di Asti (or Palio Astese in its most archaic nomenclature) is a traditional Italian festival of medieval origin that culminates with a bareback horse race.

The race has been run each year since the 13th century.[1] The earliest record, cited by Guglielmo Ventura,[2] dates from the third quarter of the 13th century. It has taken place every year, with the exception of a period in the 1870s and a 30 year interruption in the 20th century.

Since 1988, the race has taken place in a triangular 'square' in the center of Asti, the Piazza Alfieri, on every third Sunday of September.

  1. ^ Gentile L., Le antiche feste Patronali di San Secondo in Asti, Rievocazioni storiche. Asti 1928, page 5
  2. ^ Ventura G., Memoriale (Capitolo X)

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