Il Palio of Ostia Antica - Autumn Palio

Like every autumn returns the Palio of Ostia Antica, an unmissable event among the traditional festivals of this period, which celebrates the history of competitions between districts, which offer us a show in the shadow of the Castle of Julius II. 

The cultural event, which takes place in the Village of Ostia Antica and the Castle of Julius II, is organized by the Ostia Antica Palio Association and, although it is not a historical re-enactment in the strict sense, the event reproduces faithfully and scientific rigor customs of the Renaissance era, specifically the period between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th, in which the figure of Giuliano della Rovere, future Pope Julius II, stands out.

The history of the Palio begins at the beginning of the 2000s, as a school project of the Marini-Fanelli comprehensive institute, and then transformed in 2006 into a larger territorial event, with the name of Palio della Chiave. Finally, since 2014, thanks to the birth of the Palio Association of Ostia Antica, the event has become an integral part of the official calendar of the X Municipality of Rome Capital. 

One of the elements that distinguish the event is the Historical Procession, which crosses the village of Ostia Antica up to the Tournament field. The participants, contrada members and participants, parade wearing Renaissance costumes that recall the colors and symbols of each contrada.

Since 2014 the Palio has been celebrated in two distinct events:

Summer Palio and Autumn Palio.

- The Summer Palio (one day) is celebrated on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice (June) and the trophy is called Palietto which is awarded through games between the districts. Characteristic of this event is the night-time historical procession by lantern light.

- The Autumn Palio (two days) is celebrated on the weekend closest to the autumn equinox (September) and the trophy takes the name of "Palio" which is awarded to the district whose knight wins the chivalric tournament.

The Tournament takes place in three distinct phases: the skill and dexterity competition, the Giostra della Quintana (both elimination) and the Lizza, the last final test for the two knights remaining in the competition.

Another characteristic of this autumn event is the Historical Procession which winds through the center of Ostia Antica until it reaches the Tournament field.

SIDE ACTIVITIES

Creation of an album of Palio stickers spread throughout the Ostiense area with the collaboration of the major newsstands.

THE CONTRADE www.paliodiostiantica.it/le-contrade

The protagonists of the Palio are the Contrade with their contrada members.

The members of the Palio, depending on the territory they belong to, group together to form the Contrade. Each district appoints its own Captain and is characterized by colors, coat of arms and banner from the others.

To participate in the traditional Historical Procession it is essential to wear the Renaissance costume with the colors of the district.

There are currently six Contrade: Borgo, Castello, Gregoriopoli, Longarina, Saline,

Ponds.

CONTRADA BORGO

Borgo is one of the historical districts of the Palio of Ostia Antica which has as its emblem the Mastio della Rocca in the Renaissance guise reworked by Pope Julius II. Its colors are: crimson red and gold. His motto is Vis unita fortior (united strength is stronger), in a broad sense: unity is strength.

CONTRADA CASTELLO

Castello is one of the historic districts of the Palio of Ostia Antica. The symbol represents the Rocca di Ostia enlarged to Castello by Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere as Dean Bishop of the territory and future Pope Julius II. It was an important papal customs house and military stronghold.

The colors of the district are: white, gold and green. The motto: Nobilitas et Virtus (nobility and virtue).

DISTRICT GREGORIOPOLI

Gregoriopoli is one of the historic districts of the Palio of Ostia Antica.

It represents the fortified citadel built by Pope Gregory IV in the 9th century to defend against Saracen incursions. In the Renaissance it was also enlarged and embellished with the construction of the bishop's seat (Episcopio) next to the church of S. Aurea.

In the walls of the village you can still admire the beauty of the access arch that the district reproduces in its banner.

Its colors are: black and gold. The motto: Castrum Fidei (fortress of faith), that is, place of authority (fortress) and perfection (faith).

CONTRADA LONGARINA

Longarina is a territorial district of the Palio of Ostia Antica.

Located within the Castelfusano pine forest, it is characterized by a notable presence of Eucalyptus planted by the people of Ravenna at the end of the 19th century for the absorption of water after the reclamation of the area and the adjacent one of Stagni. Its emblem is the Moon and the Sun on its banner.

Its colors are: scarlet red and silver. The motto: Sufficit Animus (courage is enough).

SALINE CONTRADA

Saline is a territorial district of the Palio of Ostia Antica.

It is located on the site which, since ancient times, was so called due to the presence of two natural salt pans exploited due to the importance and economic value of the salt. At the end of the 18th century they were abandoned and followed the fate of all the surrounding territory: swamp and malaria.

Its colors are: blue in all its shades, white and gold.

The symbol is a Little Egret, a heron with white plumage still present in the area today.

The motto is Cum grano salis (with a grain of salt), in a figurative sense it has the broadest meaning of "with a pinch of common sense", "with intelligence".

CONTRADA STAGNI 

The Contrada Stagni is a territorial district of the Palio of Ostia Antica.

It is located in an area adjacent to Ostia Antica and, in ancient times, was characterized by the sea to the west, the pond to the east and the course of the Tiber to the north.

Only at the end of the 19th century did the marshy area become livable thanks to the reclamation of the Ravenna people.

Its colors are: green and gold. The coat of arms reproduces the head of a horse and a frog.

The motto is: Memento audere semper (remember to always dare).

Photo credits: Facebook official page