Palio d'la Ciaramèla of 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 re-enactments in the area takes place every September: the Palio d'la Ciaramèla. The event, born in 1981 on the initiative of the Giuseppe Amisani Cultural Centre, brings back 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 'ciaramèla'

The heart of the palio is the challenge 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 furthest wins. A simple and popular game, deeply rooted in Lombard peasant culture.

Historical procession, parades, and re-enactments

A true historical festival unfolds around the competition:

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

Even the little ones are protagonists

The palio dedicates space to children with the Children's Palio, reserved for children aged 10 to 14, who compete in the game of 'ciaramèla'. 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.