Giostra della Quintana di Foligno – La Sfida

A tradition dating back to 1613

The Giostra della Quintana is the beating heart of Foligno, in the province of Perugia. Its roots go back to 1613, when the Umbrian city established the chivalric game of the ring; the modern version we know today was reborn in 1946. The Sfida in June is the first of the two annual rounds, followed in September by the Rivincita.

The race: three rounds, nine rings

At the Campo de li Giochi, ten knights, one for each district, gallop along an 'eight' shaped track. In each pass, they must pierce a ring suspended from the arm of the statue of the God Campo with their lance: the diameter progressively reduces in the three rounds (6 cm, then 5.5 cm, finally 5 cm), making the challenge a matter of absolute precision. The winner is the one with the lowest time without errors.

The ten districts

The city is divided into ten districts that animate the entire event: Ammanniti, Badia, Cassero, Contrastanga, Croce Bianca, Giotti, La Mora, Morlupo, Pugilli, and Spada. Each district has its own colours, its own tavern, and its own supporters.

The historical parade

On the evening before the joust, over 800 figures in refined, handmade Baroque costumes parade through the historic centre in the famous historical parade, one of the most impressive in Italy. Ladies, nobles, soldiers, and dignitaries recreate the Foligno of the 17th century.

The district taverns

In the weeks leading up to the joust, the district taverns open, offering an authentic period atmosphere where you can taste traditional Umbrian cuisine. They are places where the community gathers and the rivalry between districts dissolves into conviviality.

The Quintana is today one of the most important historical reenactments in Umbria and Italy, an event that transforms the entire city into a grand open-air Baroque theatre.