Palio d'la Ciaramèla di Mede

The Palio d'la Ciaramèla: Mede relives its peasant history

In the Municipality of Mede, in the heart of Lomellina in the Province of Pavia, one of the most cherished historical reenactments in the area takes place every September: the Palio d'la Ciaramèla. The event, founded in 1981 on the initiative of the Centro Culturale Giuseppe Amisani, brings to life the peasant life of the town between 1880 and 1930, when the economy of these lands revolved around rice cultivation.

Ten districts and the game of the 'ciaramèla'

The heart of the palio is the competition between the ten districts into which the city is symbolically divided. The competition is played in the 'ciaramèla', a local variant of the ancient game of 'lippa': the district that manages to throw the wooden object the farthest wins. A simple and popular game, deeply rooted in Lombard peasant culture.

Historical procession, parades, and reenactments

A true historical festival unfolds around the competition:

• the historical procession with fixed figures such as the Palio's Muse, the Standard-bearer, and the district representatives
• the reenactments on Saturday, where each district stages scenes of period life in dialect, with authentic costumes and objects, judged for historical accuracy and fidelity
• the blessing and religious moments on Sunday
• the 'Ristopalio', featuring traditional Lomellina dishes

The little ones are also protagonists

The palio dedicates space to children with the Palio dei bambini (Children's Palio), reserved for children aged 10 to 14, who compete in the game of the 'ciaramèla'. This is a way to pass on to new generations a tradition that, for over forty years, has told the story in Mede and throughout Lomellina of who their ancestors were and how they lived.