Disfida del Malpensa

A 1186 legend that comes to life every summer

The Disfida del Malpensa is the grand medieval historical re-enactment of the town of Guarcino, a village in the Ernici Mountains in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of the Ciociaria region and the Lazio region. The event brings back to life an episode that is part of the town's very identity: in 1186, the imperial army of Henry VI, son of Barbarossa, was threatening the territories of the allied towns when a young man from Guarcino, who went down in history with the nickname Malpensa, accepted a duel challenge from the opposing champion and defeated him, forcing the imperial troops to abandon their conquest plans.

The memory of this feat has remained alive for centuries: in 1986, for the eighth centenary, a bronze statue dedicated to the hero, created by sculptor Angelo Canevari, was placed in the center of the town. Since then, the re-enactment has become the most anticipated event of the Guarcino Summer, the summer calendar that enlivens the village between July and August, alongside the Prosciutto Festival and the Amaretto Festival.

Medieval games between historic districts

The competitive heart of the festival is the rivalry between the historic districts of Guarcino, which face off in the Medieval Games with the dispute of the Palio during the first days of the event. Tests of skill, strength, and dexterity in costume transform the squares and open spaces of the historic center into competition fields, with the public supporting their colors just like in a real town palio.

Markets, crafts, and performers

For several days, the medieval alleys host the Medieval Markets: artisans and vendors specializing in clothing, weapons, leather, and period items recreate the atmosphere of a 12th-century village. Masters of ancient crafts showcase rare arts, from fresco painting to coin minting and calligraphy, while falconers, archers, and Templars guide visitors through the discovery of their world.

• Medieval games between districts with the dispute of the Palio
• Medieval markets with artisans, armorers, and master tanners
• Ancient crafts: fresco painting, minting, calligraphy
• Falconers, archers, and Templars in costume
• Medieval camp set up for the scenic re-enactment
• Street dinners in the alleys of the historic center with local restaurateurs

It is not rare to encounter unsettling and theatrical figures in the narrow streets, from preaching friars trying to redeem passersby to executioners busy with their trade: a pervasive theater that involves the entire village and makes the visit suitable for families with children as well.

The medieval camp and the Disfida

The most anticipated moment is the setting up of a real medieval camp, with tents, encampments, and soldiers, where the scenic re-enactment of the Disfida takes place: the clash between the two armies, the duel of Malpensa against the imperial champion, and the final triumph of the young man from Guarcino. At the end, late in the evening, the celebrations in honor of the hero move to the alleys of the historic center with street dinners organized together with the town's restaurateurs.

Guarcino, a village in the Ernici Mountains

Located about 80 kilometers from Rome and a short distance from Fiuggi, Guarcino is a stone village overlooking the Cosa river valley, a starting point for the Campocatino plateau. Its gastronomic tradition revolves around prosciutto and amaretti di Guarcino, almond-based sweets that pair perfectly with the evenings of the re-enactment. Visiting the town during the Disfida means combining historical spectacle, hiking in the Ernici Mountains, and Ciociarian cuisine in a single trip.