Historical Palio of the Contrade (Donkey Palio)

The Donkey Palio, the soul of Roccatederighi

In the heart of the rolling Maremma hills, perched on a trachyte rock spur, the medieval village of Roccatederighi — a hamlet of the Municipality of Roccastrada in the province of Grosseto (Tuscany) — celebrates its most cherished event every year on August 14th: the Historical Palio of the Contrade, simply known to everyone as the Donkey Palio. It is a day when the entire village transforms into an open-air stage, bringing back to life the atmospheres, costumes, and rivalries of a bygone era.

A tradition from long ago

Popular memory traces the origins of the contest back to August 14, 1295, when a "joust of the sixths" was allegedly held to celebrate a marriage linked to the Sienese lordship over the village. In its modern form, the Palio has been held continuously since 1927 (with the sole exception of the World War II years). Until 1970, it was run on September 14th; since 1971, by the will of the Pro Loco Roccatederighi, the date was moved to August 14th to involve the many summer tourists.

The five districts

Competing for the banner are the five districts into which the village is divided:

• Corso
• Torre
• Tramonto
• Nobili
• Ventosa

Each district carries its own colors, symbols, and participants, and prepares for the challenge with great passion.

The 15th-century historical pageant

Before the race, the village streets fill with a historical pageant that reconstructs life in Roccatederighi during the 15th century, inspired by the statutes of 1406 and 1452. Over a hundred participants in medieval costume parade, organized into three large groups: the authorities of the Free Commune (Vicar, Chamberlain, nobles, and members of the Company of Saint Sebastian), the representatives of the districts, and the people, the heart of the community. The parade is closed by drummers and flag-wavers.

The donkey, the star of the festival

The true protagonist of the Palio is the donkey: once indispensable to the life of the locals, it is chosen by the festival as a symbol of industriousness, intelligence, and gentleness. The race pits the districts against each other in a competition that rewards both skill and luck, in an atmosphere of healthy rivalry and great popular involvement.

More than a race: a village festival

The Donkey Palio is not just the race on August 14th: in the days leading up to it, the village comes alive with the parallel event Middle Ages in the Village and numerous initiatives that make this part of summer an unmissable appointment in the Grosseto Maremma. The Tuscany Region recognizes and supports the Palio as a historical re-enactment of value for the Roccastrada territory.