Paciarèla Festival and Palio del Pane

A historical re-enactment in Martesana

The Paciarèla Festival and Palio del Pane is the grand historical festival of Gessate (Metropolitan City of Milan), established in 1971. It takes place on the first Sunday of October and re-enacts an episode from local history: the dispute between the people of Gessate and Count Bonesana, brought back to life through performances, parades, and a challenge between the town's districts.

The Palio del Pane and the four districts

The heart of the event is the Palio del Pane, the competition that pits the four historic districts of Gessate against each other:

• Badia, Castellaccio, Cittadella, and San Pancrazio, the four competing districts;
• Historical re-enactment of the dispute with Count Bonesana (Saturday evening);
• Parade in period costume on Sunday afternoon;
• Medieval atmosphere along Via Badia and in the town center.

Memory and identity

The Paciarèla Festival is much more than a celebration: it is how Gessate preserves its historical memory and strengthens the bond between its districts. The re-enactment, with its costumes, scenes, and the Palio, involves the entire community and attracts visitors from all over Martesana and the Milan area, in one of the most characteristic autumn festivals in the region.