Giostra della Quintana of Foligno – The Challenge

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 spear 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 test a matter of absolute precision. The winner is the one with the fastest 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 colors, its own tavern, and its own supporters.

The Historical Pageant

On the evening before the joust, over 800 figures in refined, handmade Baroque costumes parade through the historic center in the famous historical pageant, 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 period settings where you can taste traditional Umbrian cuisine. They are the place where the community gathers and the rivalry between districts is softened by conviviality.

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