Palio dei Quartieri di Nocera Umbra

The Palio dei Quartieri of Nocera Umbra

Every year, in the first week of August, Nocera Umbra — a village perched in the upper Topino valley, in the province of Perugia — transforms into an open-air stage. The Palio dei Quartieri is the city's great identity festival: for seven days, the alleys, squares, and palaces of the historic center serve as the backdrop for a reenactment that pits the two historic districts against each other.

Two Districts, Two Eras

The challenge is played out between Borgo San Martino, with its yellow and blue colors, which evokes Nocera's Middle Ages (1350-1450) and extends along the right side of the city towards the acropolis, and Porta Santa Croce, with its red and green colors, which brings the 19th century (1820-1920) to life along Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Each district fields its own historical parade, with hundreds of participants in period costumes, drummers, flag-wavers, and living pictures.

The Edition's Theme

Each edition revolves around a theme on which the two districts build their parades, animations, and dinners. In 2025 the common thread was "institutional, cultural, social, and economic life"; for 2026 the chosen theme is "characters and events that have marked Nocera's social history with their presence or their arrival from other places".

Taverns, Period Dinners, and the Dama Infedele

Throughout the week, the two districts' taverns remain open, where traditional and historical gastronomic dishes are served. Evenings alternate between alley animations and period dinners, while the real competition culminates in the Gioco della Dama Infedele, divided into the relay and sedan chair races. A jury also awards a Special Prize evaluating each district's parade, setup, and period dinner.

A Festival for the Entire Community

The Palio is organized by the Nuovo Ente Palio dei Quartieri (New Palio dei Quartieri Body) and involves the entire population of Nocera Umbra, in Umbria, with preparations lasting months and popular participation that makes this reenactment one of the most cherished summer events in the Umbrian-Marche Apennines.