Messa dello Spadone

A Rite That Spans Centuries

Among the most evocative and identity-defining events in Friuli is the Messa dello Spadone, which Cividale del Friuli celebrates every year on January 6th, Epiphany Day. It is a rite of medieval origin rooted in 1366, when Patriarch Marquard von Randeck made his solemn entry into the city: since then, the liturgy has preserved a very particular ceremony, in which the deacon wears the helmet and wields the patriarchal sword during the proclamation of the Gospel.

Liturgy in the Cathedral

The celebration takes place in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and attracts faithful, authorities, and curious visitors from all over the region every year. The sword and helmet, symbols of the temporal and spiritual power of the Patriarch of Aquileia, make this mass unique in the Italian liturgical landscape, a living testament to Cividale's past as the capital of the Patriarchate.

The Historical Re-enactment

The religious part is followed by the historical costume re-enactment, curated by the Palio di San Donato association. The procession recreates the arrival of Patriarch Marquard von Randeck: from the Porta di Ponte, across the Devil's Bridge and along Corso Paolino d'Aquileia, ladies, guards, knights, and re-enactors parade to Piazza Duomo, where the ceremony of the oath of allegiance and investiture takes place.

Medieval Afternoon in Piazza Duomo

From early afternoon, the festival continues with medieval entertainment in Piazza Duomo: musicians, drummers, flag-wavers, fire-eaters, re-enactor combat, and shows culminating in the Epiphany fireworks. An engaging way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ducal Cividale and to beautifully conclude the Christmas season.

Cividale, UNESCO Lombard Heritage City

The Messa dello Spadone is organized by the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli together with the Palio association, and is part of the rich tradition of a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Lombard heritage. Between the Lombard Temple, the Celtic Hypogeum, and the Devil's Bridge, January 6th is the ideal day to discover Cividale in its most solemn and festive guise.