Palio dei 4 Cantoni

The Palio dei 4 Cantoni: the 15th century returns to Cerano

Every year, in the heart of Piedmont, the town of Cerano (in the province of Novara) transforms into a medieval village for the Palio dei 4 Cantoni, one of the most cherished historical re-enactments in the Ticino Valley. The event is part of the Patronal Feast of Beato Pacifico Ramati, the town's patron saint celebrated on the first Sunday of September, and reaches its climax the following Sunday with the historical pageant and the challenge between the districts.

A history rooted in the Gallarati fiefdom

The Palio commemorates a specific episode in Cerano's history: in the 15th century, when the village belonged to the Duchy of Milan, the Sforza family granted Cerano as a fiefdom to Count Pietro Gallarati. The nobleman's arrival was met with great popular festivities, and it is precisely these celebrations that the event, established in 1983, draws its roots from. The Gallarati family, later joined by the Scotti family to become the Gallarati-Scotti house, left a deep mark on Cerano, still visible today in the historic palaces of the town center.

The four districts in competition

The village is ideally divided into four districts, the cantoni, which compete for the Palio with fierce local pride:

• Castello
• Canton Nuovo
• Mulino
• Troggia

In traditional editions, around five hundred participants in magnificent 15th-century costumes parade through the town streets before reaching the sports field, where the games for the assignment of the coveted banner—painted each year by a local artist—take place.

Atmosphere and popular tradition

Dames, knights, men-at-arms, flag-wavers, and commoners bring the historic center to life in a journey back in time that involves entire families and generations of Ceranesi. The Palio dei 4 Cantoni is more than just a show: it is a moment of collective identity and belonging, where the entire town identifies with the colors of its own district.

The 2026 rebirth

After seven years of inactivity, the Comitato 4 Cantoni di Cerano has been reborn thanks to a group of young volunteers led by Joseph Bruno, with the support of the Municipality of Cerano. The 2026 edition, titled «Verso il Palio: La scoccata del Destino» (Towards the Palio: The Shot of Destiny), is a celebratory event: the return of the medieval procession and an archery competition between the districts mark the prelude to the full return of the competition, scheduled for the following year.