Agosto Medievale

Half a century of the Middle Ages in Ventimiglia

Agosto Medievale is the event that every summer brings Ventimiglia, in the province of Imperia, back to its medieval era. Organized by the Ente Agosto Medievale (Agosto Medievale Authority), it was founded in 1975 and in 2025 celebrated its 50th anniversary with the exhibition "1975-2025: Fifty Years of Our History": 2026 therefore marks its continuation, among the most established historical reenactments in western Liguria.

The six districts

The heart of the festival is the challenge between the six districts that divide the historic city: Auriveu, Burgu, Campu, Ciassa, Cuventu, and Marina. Each district fields its own participants, competes in historical games, and takes part in the parade, in a competition that intertwines neighborhood pride, historical memory, and spectacle.

Parades, palios, and the Regatta

The program alternates moments of great effect: the historical parade with the blessing of the palio, the performances of the flag wavers, the competitions in the historical games of the Notte della Contesa (Night of the Contest), and, above all, the Regata dei Sestieri (Regatta of the Districts), in which Ligurian dinghies compete on the nautical mile to win the Palio Marinaro (Maritime Palio). The festival concludes with the awards ceremony and the assignment of the municipal palio, amidst settings, taverns, and markets that liven up the historic center.

Ventimiglia Alta, the perfect setting

The old town of Ventimiglia, perched with its alleys, gates, and ancient churches, offers the ideal setting for the reenactment. A few kilometers from the French border, Agosto Medievale is also an opportunity to discover one of the most fascinating locations on the Riviera dei Fiori, where medieval history is still legible among the stones of the narrow streets.