Medieval August

Half a century of the Middle Ages in Ventimiglia

The Medieval August is the event that every summer brings Ventimiglia, in the province of Imperia, back to its medieval era. Organized by the Ente Agosto Medievale (Medieval August Authority), it was founded in 1975 and in 2025 celebrated its 50th anniversary with the exhibition "1975-2025: Fifty Years of Our History". Therefore, 2026 marks its continuation, among the most established historical re-enactments in western Liguria.

The Six Districts

The heart of the festival is the competition between the six districts that divide the historic city: Auriveu, Burgu, Campu, Ciassa, Cuventu, and Marina. Each district fields its own participants, competes in historical games, and takes part in the parade, in a competition that intertwines neighborhood pride, historical memory, and spectacle.

Parades, Palios, and the Regatta

The program alternates moments of great effect: the historical parade with the blessing of the palio, the performances of the flag-throwers, the competitions in the historical games of the Night of Contention, and, above all, the Regatta of the Districts, in which Ligurian dinghies compete on the nautical mile to win the Maritime Palio. The festival concludes with the award ceremony and the assignment of the municipal palio, amidst settings, taverns, and markets that liven up the historic center.

Ventimiglia Alta, the Perfect Setting

The old town of Ventimiglia, perched with its alleys, gates, and ancient churches, offers the ideal setting for the re-enactment. A few kilometers from the French border, the Medieval August is also an opportunity to discover one of the most fascinating locations on the Riviera dei Fiori, where medieval history is still legible among the stones of the alleys.