Palio del Drappo Verde

The oldest race in the world

The Palio del Drappo Verde is considered the oldest footrace in the world: documented since 1208, it is even remembered by Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy, in the famous passage that compares a character's movement to someone running for the green banner ('drappo verde') of Verona. For over eight centuries, the race has represented an identity symbol of the Scaliger city.

In Valpantena, among vineyards and olive groves

The modern event takes place in the picturesque Valpantena, a valley dedicated to viticulture and olive growing a few kilometers from the center of Verona. The start and finish are located in the park of Villa Ca' Vendri, in the hamlet of Santa Maria in Stelle, along a route that crosses the Veronese countryside.

The Palio and the Sgambada

The day combines two events: the Palio del Drappo Verde, a competitive race of about 11.4 km, and the 'Sgambada de San Giuseppe', a non-competitive walk of various distances open to everyone, including families. Organized by the Gruppo Sportivo Dilettantistico Mombocar with the patronage of the Municipality of Verona, the event attracts hundreds of participants every year.

Sport and Veronese tradition

More than just a race, the Palio del Drappo Verde is a dive into Verona's history: an event that intertwines competition, medieval memory, and love for the territory, bringing to life a tradition that spans centuries in the heart of Valpantena.