Foligno (PG) annually hosts the Giostra della Quintana, annual historical event (revived in 1946 after a century break, ed) inspired by the medieval equestrian competition and that will bring the city back to a time when women were “Dame” and men “Sir.”
The term refers to the Quintana fifth way of the Roman camp, where usually took place the training of soldiers, armed with spears, threw themselves against a puppet, commonly called “Saracen” trying to thread the ring hanging from a hand of the same.
La Giostra della Quintana is among the best known and appreciated Italian horse races, as to be referred to as “The Olympics of the equestrian competitions”: Ten riders representing the ten districts of the city, which for the occasion take on a “fake name” (Knight of the ward Ammanniti is “The Gagliardo,” Badia “The Bold” formwork “The Pertinace”, “The Furious” for Contrastanga, “The Faithful” White Cross, “The Animoso” Giotti, “The generous “La Mora,” Baldo “Morley,” The Moor “Pugilli and” The Bold “Sword), and compete in armor riding a horse, with the aim to put the fateful 9 rings, 3 for each round. Each turn also changes the size of the ring, in descending order (10, 8 and 6 cm). The rider who manages to achieve the highest score wins the Palio della Quintana, which will be awarded at the end of the competition to the “Campo de li games”.
The first race was held in June at night and is called “The Challenge” and the second takes place in the afternoon on a Sunday in September and is called “Revenge”.
But the Giostra della Quintana is not only the Palio. In fact, the night before the competition, a procession of 600 people in costume parades through the streets of the city. Not to mention the taverns, which will remain open throughout the duration of the event.