La Festa del Rinascimento di Acquasparta

Acquasparta, the village of Prince Federico Cesi

In Acquasparta, a municipality in the province of Terni in southern Umbria, history is not a backdrop but the heart of the festival. The Renaissance Festival commemorates the era when Prince Federico Cesi chose the village as his residence: it was he, in 1603, who founded the Accademia dei Lincei – Europe's first scientific academy – and supported the research of Galileo Galilei. Palazzo Cesi, a splendid 16th-century residence, is still the symbolic centre of the event today.

The three districts

For two weeks, Acquasparta is divided into three districts that compete in a series of trials and competitions: San Cristoforo (wine glass on a white and blue background), Porta Vecchia (old gate on a yellow and blue background), and Il Ghetto (yellow griffin on a black and green background). The village comes alive with figures in Renaissance attire, artisan shops, taverns, and period encampments.

Parades, competitions, and shows

The opening is marked by the Great Parade of the Districts, which winds through the historic centre with hundreds of costumed participants. In the following days, there will be a gastronomic competition featuring 17th-century recipes cooked live, a drummers' competition, theatre challenges based on texts from before 1630, ladies' games, and the famous Game of the Goose, presented in a theatrical and live version. These are complemented by flag-thrower displays, lectures by prominent guests, and evening shows with acrobatics and fire performances.

A quality reenactment in southern Umbria

Now in its 27th edition, the Renaissance Festival is one of the most established historical reenactments in southern Umbria. The scholarly accuracy of the costumes, the connection to a figure like Federico Cesi who was genuinely linked to the area, and the collective participation of the entire Acquasparta community make it an event that successfully combines entertainment with historical and scientific dissemination.