Feste Medievali di Offagna

Eight days of the Middle Ages in Offagna

The Feste Medievali di Offagna are one of the most anticipated events of the Marche summer. Every year, in the last week of July, the small municipality of Offagna, listed among I Borghi più belli d'Italia (The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy) and overlooking the Conero Riviera, transforms into a medieval citadel: for eight days, the streets of the historic center, dominated by the imposing 15th-century Rocca (fortress), fill with ladies, knights, soldiers, musicians, jesters, and artisans in period costume.

The event, established in 1988, is promoted by the Comitato Feste Per Offagna with the patronage of the Municipality of Offagna and is now one of the reference historical reenactments for the province of Ancona and the entire Marche Region. In 2026, the festival will reach its 39th edition, with the theme "Paese di Indissolubili Radici" (Land of Unbreakable Roots), a tribute to the origins and memory of the village.

The Contesa della Crescia

The highlight is the Contesa della Crescia, the challenge that sees the four districts into which the town is divided compete: Croce, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and Torrione. It is a unique competition in Italy, as it is contested with four different weapons: bow, crossbow, mace, and lance. The joust takes place in Piazza della Contesa and keeps residents and visitors on the edge of their seats until the winner is proclaimed, awarded with a medieval dinner.

Parades, Shows, and Taverns

Alongside the competition, the program offers a rich calendar of events that liven up every evening:

• Historical parade on Sunday, with over 300 participants in medieval costumes parading through the village;
• Shows by flag-wavers, musicians, and drummers in the squares and alleys;
• Falconry displays, fire-juggling, fire-eaters, and itinerant street performances;
• Weapon displays, archery, and demonstrations of ancient crafts;
• Knighting ceremony, which closes the festival in Piazza del Maniero.

The medieval taverns set up within the village walls offer traditional dishes, first and foremost the crescia di Offagna, the typical focaccia that gives its name to the Contesa, accompanied by local wines. Artisan shops and markets selling local products complete the atmosphere, while the medieval Rocca remains open for visits.

A Journey Through Time in the Heart of the Marche

Visiting the Feste Medievali di Offagna means immersing yourself in an authentic and well-curated reenactment, characterized by popular participation and a passion for history. Just a few kilometers from Ancona and the beaches of the Conero, the village offers visitors the chance to experience the Middle Ages through reenactments, gastronomy, and entertainment, in one of the most evocative settings in the Marche.