Palio di San Donato
Fri, Aug 23
|Cividale del Friuli
The “Palio di San Donato” is a medieval event which re-enacts the tournament that took place from the 14th century onwards on the feast day of the ducal town’s patron saint (San Donato, 21st of August).
Time & Location
Aug 23, 2024, 6:30 PM – Aug 25, 2024, 9:30 PM
Cividale del Friuli, Piazza Duomo, 33043 Cividale del Friuli UD, Italy
About the event
This event saw the champions of that time compete in various competitions: horse races, runs, crossbow archery and harquebus shooting. The traditional Palio di San Donato has been revived every year since 2000 with three fun-packed days of celebration. Nowadays, only champions from the five historic villages (Borgo Duomo, Borgo San Pietro, Borgo San Domenico, Borgo Brossana and Borgo di Ponte) can participate in the running, archery and harquebus competitions. However, the whole audience is involved in this tournament as they become part of this magical and evocative atmosphere that is created by virtue of this scrupulous historical reconstruction of the 14th century. Furthermore, the stages are animated with performances by drummers, jugglers, fire breathers, minstrels, jesters, musicians and numerous people in period costumes.