Donkey Palio and Carmine Fair

A Popular Tradition of Presolana

The Donkey Palio and Carmine Fair is one of the most characteristic events of the summer in Songavazzo, a village in Val Seriana at the foot of Presolana, in the province of Bergamo. An event that combines the spectacle of the popular palio with the tradition of the devotional Carmine fair, in a day of celebration that involves the entire community.

The Donkey Race

The heart of the day is the Donkey Palio, the amusing and highly anticipated race that features donkeys guided by their jockeys in a challenge that is both hilarious and exciting to cheer for. It is a form of popular sport rooted in the mountain rural culture, where the donkey was a precious animal for work in the fields and woods. The race takes place at the municipal sports center and draws great enthusiasm every year, with cheering crowds and the merriment of the competing teams.

The Carmine Fair

Accompanying the palio is the Carmine Fair, linked to the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with stalls, typical local products, handicrafts, and entertainment. The fair transforms the village into a place of meeting and celebration, where devotional traditions intertwine with popular and gastronomic ones.

A Celebration for the Whole Community

Promoted by the Municipality of Songavazzo, the event is an unmissable appointment in the summer calendar of the Villages of Presolana. Between the donkey race, the fair, and conviviality, the Donkey Palio and Carmine Fair tells the authentic spirit of a small mountain village that knows how to celebrate while preserving its roots.