Baggio Festival

Almost four centuries of history

The Baggio Festival is the historic festival of the Baggio district, in the western area of Milan (Municipality 7, Province of Milan, Lombardy). It has been held continuously since 1628, the year it was established to celebrate the opening of the parish of Sant'Apollinare (the current Old Church) to the public, and in 2026 it will reach the incredible milestone of the 398th edition. A continuity that makes it one of the longest-standing traditions in the Lombard capital.

The Palio degli Asini

The most characteristic symbol of the festival is the Palio degli Asini (or donkey race), linked to an ancient legend: it is said that a hungry donkey, to graze, climbed the bell tower of Sant'Apollinare. Today the race is a kind of palio in which citizens, divided into teams, run on foot, each accompanying a donkey covered with a differently coloured banner. A jocular and identity-building moment that brings the whole village together.

Three days of celebration

For three days, during the third week of October, Baggio comes alive with food stands, concerts, shows, dances, games for adults and children, and entertainment for all ages. The festival keeps alive the village soul of a district that, despite being incorporated into the metropolis, retains a strong identity and a deep sense of community.

A neighbourhood tradition

The event is organized by the Comitato Sagra di Baggio with the patronage of Municipality 7. Its importance for the community is also evidenced by history: as early as the 19th century, under Mayor Camillo Nava, public funding for the municipal band was linked to the commitment to play precisely at the Sagra di Baggio.