Ancient Giostra del Pitu

A festival of identity in the Monferrato area of Asti

The Ancient Giostra del Pitu is the most cherished event in Tonco, a small hillside village in the province of Asti, in the heart of the Piedmontese Monferrato. It is an ancient popular festival of a propitiatory nature, rooted in the local peasant traditions: originally, the community would symbolically cast all the ills and burdens of the past year onto the Pitu (the turkey, in the local Piedmontese dialect) in a cathartic rite of collective purification before the new agricultural cycle.

The historical pageant

The day begins with a grand costumed parade that departs from the Officine Casorzo and winds through the village streets, led by the notes of the "La Bersagliera" Band. The procession commemorates the figure of Gerardo di Tonco, founder of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, which later became the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and accompanies floats that depict rural life and the ancient trades of the village.

The trial of the Pitu

The most anticipated and amusing moment is the trial of the Pitu, which takes place in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. Before a court set up in the square, the turkey is accused, defends itself in vain, and is finally sentenced. Before the verdict, as a final wish, it makes a public testament: reciting in the Monferrato dialect, it takes revenge by highlighting, with sharp irony, the small and large vices of the community's most prominent figures. It is a moment of popular satire that brings laughter to the entire square.

The equestrian tournament between the districts

After the trial, the competition begins in earnest: seven jockeys, one for each of the town's districts, compete in the spectacular equestrian tournament. At a gallop, each rider attempts to use a stick to detach the head of the Pitu, which today is represented by a cloth puppet rather than a real animal. The historic districts competing for victory are Annunziata, Portone, Piazza, Santa Maria, Stazione, Sant'Antonio, and Casa Paletti.

Atmosphere and gastronomy

The festival is also an occasion for conviviality: from lunchtime onwards, the Pro Loco of Tonco offers refreshments with sandwiches, wine, and local specialties, while the village comes alive with the public, costumes, and the colors of the districts. A day that combines historical re-enactment, folklore, tradition, and fun in one of the most authentic settings of the Monferrato.