Cividale del Friuli is ready to celebrate the Patron Saint Donato on August 21 as it was done every year, starting from the fourteenth century and up to 1797.
Parades in colorful medieval clothes, stalls with typical traditional products, workshops, games for adults and children, will be the subject of this long-awaited animated weekend. Today only the Cividale people compete, protagonists of the pedestrian race, archery and crossbow competitions. The champions of Borgo Duomo, Borgo San Pietro, Borgo San Domenico, Borgo Brossana and Borgo di Ponte will compete, but the entire public will be involved, thanks to the magical and evocative atmosphere which derives from the scrupulous reconstruction of the themed settings, animated by drum shows, jugglers, fire-breathing, minstrels, jesters, that will take viewers back in time.
Il 19, 20 and 21 August Cividale del Friuli will celebrate the XXI edition of Palio of San Donato opening the doors of the city to all visitors who wish to live in a context out of the ordinary. The Palio was a lively competition between archers, crossbowmen and arquebusiers who represented city villages and other towns or castles. Alongside these tests, there were also those of the foot and horse race, accompanied by numerous shows. The prizes for the winners consisted of high-value fabrics, which is why the Palio was such a coveted event.
The Tourism Councilor, Giuseppe Ruolo, he maintains that “it was not easy to reactivate the organizational machinery of such a complex initiative, which has remained stationary after a long time, and therefore I thank very much all the villages, associations and volunteers who will take part in it. Also a fond memory goes to Pierino Tolazzione of the pillars of the medieval festival that Covid took away from us “.
The complete program of the event is available on the website http://www.paliodicividale.it
INFO: Information desk tel. +39 0432 710460; [email protected]
Official site: www.paliodicividale.it
FB page: Palio di Cividale, event: Palio di San Donato XXI edition
THE PROGRAM
Friday 19 August 2022
from Vespers to late at night
From 18.30 The TAVERN welcome foreigners while the streets and squares light up with color.
At 9.00 pm WELCOME OF THE PALIO IN THE CATHEDRAL e BLESSING OF THE CITY WITH THE RELICS OF THE HOLY PATRON DONATO: the Palio, escorted by drums and armigers, accompanied by parades of nobles and commoners, crosses the villages officially opening the city tournament.
At 10.30pm Show of the Medieval Drums of Cividale
Saturday 20th August 2022
From 9.30 am XIV Commander Mark Tournament: international itinerant archery competition in the historic post office in Piazza Duomo, Giardino Costantini (Borgo Duomo), Mulinuss (Borgo San Pietro), Villa Laurino Casa Carbonaro (Borgo San Domenico), Garden of the Paolo Diacono National Boarding School (Borgo di Ponte), Ex Orto delle Orsoline (Borgo Brossana), edited by Forojuliense Historical Group; at 3.00 pm Award ceremony (Council Chamber of the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli).
In case of bad weather the race will take place at the Martiri della Libertà gym (via Udine 2).
From late morning the TAVERN offer patrons medieval delicacies accompanied by flavored drinks and infusions, while the voices of merchants attract visitors to the rich and colorful stalls of MARKETS medieval buildings located along the streets and squares of the city.
At 4.15 pm Archery competition, the chronicle of the race will be interspersed with brief historical notes on the art of archery and crossbow, by the Forojuliense Historical Group. The race is valid for the assignment of the Palio di San Donato. In case of bad weather the competitions will take place in the Martiri della Libertà gymnasium (via Udine 2).
At 5.45 pm Patriarchal Procession: damsels, nobles and knights, armigers and commoners accompany the champions of the villages that will compete for the Palio.
From 18.00 along the streets of the Ducal City Relay pedestrian race “TROFEO DEI BORGHI DI CIVIDALE” exciting re-enactment of the traditional relay race champions of each village by theACLI Cividale. The race is valid for the assignment of the Palio di San Donato.
At 7.15 pm the race awards ceremony.
At 10.30pm Magnificent battle rolls con i Medieval Drums of Cividalei Drums of Brisighella no Lupi Feritas-Tamburi di Valvasone.
Sunday 21st August 2022
At 10.30 in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta Solemn Holy Mass in honor of San Donato patron of the city. For the occasion, the reliquary bust of the Saint, a 14th century goldsmith’s work, is exhibited in the Church.
At 11.30 at the Duomo Honors at the “PALIO DI SAN DONATO” e Solemn procession along the streets of the city.
From late morning TAVERN e MARKETS medieval open.
From 4.15 pm Tenzone della Celata with the Arch.
Following Crossbow Shooting Competition the race is valid for the assignment of the Palio di San Donato. The chronicle of the race will be interspersed with brief historical notes on the art of archery and crossbow, by the Forojuliense Historical Group. In case of bad weather the competitions will take place in the Martiri della Libertà gymnasium (via Udine 2).
At the end of the race arrives in the square on Palio of San Donato escorted by drums and armigers and knights, accompanied by nobles and commoners, to be assigned to the winning Borgo.
Following Tenzone della Celata with the Crossbow. Challenge between the champions of the villages who will compete, with the support of the noisy and colorful villagers, for the coveted prize, by the Forojuliense Historical Group.
From 20.00 awards ceremony e delivery of the Palio di San Donato to the winning Borgo in pedestrian running and archery and crossbow competitions. The Palio will be exhibited for a year in the church of the winning Borgo of the races.
Following sclosing garments in honor of the winning Borgo in the free and playful madness of a day of celebration.
