Armata di Pentecoste – Sciò la Pica

A tradition uninterrupted for as long as anyone can remember

In the heart of the Marca Fermana, the village of Monterubbiano, in the province of Fermo, hosts one of the most defining events in the Marche region every year during Pentecost: the Armata di Pentecoste – Sciò la Pica. Organized by the Armata di Pentecoste Association since 1965, this reenactment unites civil, religious, and the older, more mysterious aspects tied to the spring rites of the Italic peoples into one grand festival.

The myth of Ver Sacrum and the flight of the picchio (magpie)

The name "Sciò la Pica" refers to a legend dating back to the 5th century BC, rooted in the very origins of the Picene people. According to the tradition of Ver Sacrum (the Sacred Spring), following a year of famine, young people born during the spring consecrated to the gods were forced into exile. They set off following the flight of a woodpecker (the "pica"), a bird sacred to an Italic deity corresponding to the Roman Mars. The raptor finally landed in the Monterubbiano territory, attracted by the red berries of the madder plant, and here the population decided to settle. From this founding myth descends the procession of "zappaterra" peasants to this day, who, in their traditional work attire called guazzarò, carry a picchio (woodpecker) tied to a cherry branch in procession.

The four historic guilds

The competitive spirit of the festival is embodied by the four guilds that divide the village and its trades, each with its own colors:

• Artisti (Artists) — the artisans, colors yellow and blue
• Mulattieri (Muleteers) — trades related to transport and travel, colors white, black, and blue
• Bifolchi (Ploughmen) — the farmers from the surrounding countryside, colors yellow and red
• Zappaterra (Diggers) — the peasants residing in the town, colors white and green

The Giostra dell'Anello (Ring Joust)

The climax of the reenactment is the Giostra dell'Anello, held on Sunday afternoon. The four knights, one from each guild, charge at a gallop with lances lowered towards suspended rings: whoever pierces the target brings victory to their guild and wins the prestigious silver Monterubbiano. Before the joust, the village comes alive with the 16th-century historical procession starting from Piazza Tito Calzecchi Onesti, flag-throwers, musicians, and the procession with the offering of candles to Santa Maria del Soccorso, fulfilling a vow documented in the municipal statutes of 1538.

A village celebrating

During the festival days, the historic center of Monterubbiano is filled with food stalls managed by the Pro Loco, evening performances by musicians and flag-throwers, folk games, and guild lunches. It's a unique opportunity to discover one of the most charming villages in the province of Fermo and immerse yourself in a tradition that, in the words of the organizers themselves, has been passed down "in uninterrupted continuity for as long as anyone can remember".