HISTORICAL CELEBRATIONS IN PICENO

In Piceno country the past times come to life again through a skilled recreation of tournaments, sacred and profane celebrations, and banquets that are rooted in the Middle Ages. A lot of walk-on with their hand-made costumes that carefully respect the exactness of the history, recreate the ancient atmosphere of a territory whose traditions keep on being loved and appreciated by the same population that join the rituals. We point out the main summer commemorations in Piceno: all of them fall every year but the Jubilee Feast of Grottammare takes place only when the first of July falls on Sunday (like last July 2007).

‘Jubilee Feast’ – Grottammare - Sunday, July 1st, 2007

The Jubilee Feast is a suggestive historic commemoration with walk-on people that takes place every year with 1st of July falling on Sunday (like last July 2007).The event wants to remember the safety docking of Pope Alexander the third in 1177 on our coasts while he was going to Venice.
The festivities schedule a week of civil and religious events that ends on the night of July the 1st with the passing of a long procession split into two different parts: the first one is a strictly historical one with period costumes and armiger on horses that bring a red banner, the symbol of the solemnity: the other one is a religious procession composed by local clergymen. The word ‘Jubilee’ is due to the plenary indulgence that is granted during those days.

‘Quintain Tournament’ - Ascoli Piceno – Beginning of July and 1st Sunday of August

Ascoli Piceno is famous over Italy also for its Quintain Tournament taking place the 1st Sunday of August (since a few years there is also the night edition at the beginning of July). The Quintana begins with a spectacular parade of 1.400 people in sparkly renaissance costumes that passes through streets and squares of Ascoli in honour of Saint Emidio: the Courts are heading the procession followed by the Castles’ Delegation and the Civic Districts. Once arrived into the square of the tournament six riders test their horsemanship and start to jousting

‘Palio del Duca - Sponsalia’ - Acquaviva Picena - 1st week of August

The ‘Palio del Duca’ is a medieval celebration that doesn’t tell about a war but a love story and the wedding between Foresteria, the daughter of the Duke of Acquaviva, and Rinaldo Brunforte from Sarnano. During the celebration the two wards of the town, ‘La Rocca’ and ‘Il Colle’, compete in a series of medieval games. The 3rd day the celebration ends with Celtic music, dances and a big medieval wedding banquet.

‘Templaria’ - Castignano - 3rd week of August

Templaria takes place inside the suggestive medieval town of Castignano. During the four days long festival you’ll take a true leap into past and enjoy a lot of events. The celebration gives a cross-section of society during the Middle Age: old craftsman’s workshops, performances of actors, dancers, jugglers, acrobats, fortune-tellers, Knight and Ladies and taverns with typical medieval menu.