Palio del Golfo
The historic regatta of the thirteen hamlets of the Gulf of La Spezia
About Palio del Golfo
A Century-Long Challenge
The Palio del Golfo is the defining event of La Spezia and its gulf: a rowing dinghy race that, every year on the first Sunday of August, sees thirteen maritime hamlets compete. Born in 1925 from spontaneous races between crews of working boats that transported fish and mussels, it has become a tradition capable of engaging entire communities.
The Thirteen Hamlets
Competing for the palio are the colours of Porto Venere, Le Grazie, Fezzano, Cadimare, Marola, La Spezia Centro, Canaletto, Fossamastra, Muggiano, San Terenzo, Venere Azzurra, Lerici, and Tellaro. Each hamlet competes with a 'gozzo da palio', a handcrafted boat derived from the Ligurian dinghy but built to favour speed and agility.
A Week of Celebration
The race day is preceded by days of celebrations: the night parade, the flag-raising ceremony, dinners in the hamlets, and technical trials of the boats. On Sunday, in front of the Passeggiata Morin, the main race takes place, followed by fireworks over the sea. A festival that tells the maritime soul of the Ligurian capital and the villages of its gulf.
Palio del Golfo — edition 2026
The 101st edition of the Palio del Golfo takes place on the days surrounding the first Sunday of August, with the main race on Sunday, August 2, 2026. The thirteen maritime hamlets will compete in the waters off the Passeggiata Morin.
The event is preceded by eight pre-palio races, held from May 24 to July 26, allowing crews to train and determine starting positions.
Programme Palio del Golfo 2026
Friday, July 31
- Evening parade and flag-raising ceremony
Saturday, August 1
- Boat inspection and hamlet dinners
Sunday, August 2
- Main Palio del Golfo race among the 13 hamlets, in front of the Passeggiata Morin
- Fireworks over the sea
Monday, August 3
- Awards ceremony
Pre-palio: eight races from May 24 to July 26, 2026.
Highlights Palio del Golfo 2026
Prices Palio del Golfo 2026
Practical information — Palio del Golfo
Where and When
The regatta takes place in the waters of the Gulf of La Spezia, in front of the Passeggiata Morin, on the first Sunday of August. The main race is in the late afternoon.
How to Watch
Viewing is free from the Passeggiata Morin and the seafront. It's advisable to arrive early to find a spot.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Palio del Golfo
Specchio acqueo del Golfo, Passeggiata Morin