Palio dell'Anello and Historical Re-enactment of the Contrade

A tournament with medieval roots

The Palio dell'Anello of Tarquinia revives one of the oldest equestrian traditions in the Tuscia region. The earliest archival records of jousting in ancient Corneto—modern-day Tarquinia—date back to the 13th century. The custom became a cornerstone of city life in the 15th century, when the powerful Vitelleschi family, led by Cardinal Giovanni Vitelleschi, shaped the city's destiny. After a long hiatus, the event was revived in the early 1990s, transforming into a grand celebration of local identity.

The contrade and the ring joust

The stars of the event are the city contrade—including San Martino, Santa Lucia, Santa Margherita, Sant'Antonio, Madonna dell'Ulivo, Santa Maria in Castello, Madonna di Valverde, and San Pancrazio—which take to the field with ladies, knights, flag-wavers, drummers, and musicians. The competitive heart is the ring joust: knights at full gallop must spear rings and the star held by a Saracen dummy. Precision, horse-and-rider synergy, and team coordination determine who wins the coveted banner.

The 2026 edition: nine days of celebration

The 2026 edition took place from May 15 to 23. The opening on Friday, May 15, featured a procession from Piazza Cavour to Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, followed by the blessing and oath of the knights, the official proclamation of the games, and the unveiling of the banner designed by Florentine painter Paola Imposimato. On Saturday, May 16, the historical parade starting from the church of Santa Maria in Castello re-enacted the wedding between Sante Vitelleschi and Costanza dell'Anguillara, with hundreds of participants in period costumes filling the historic center. On Friday, May 22, Piazza Matteotti hosted the historical archery competition with the Compagnia Arceri Viterbiensis, while on Saturday, May 23, the Giuseppe Cardoni stadium hosted the final challenge between the contrade, concluding with the awards ceremony.

Culture and historical rigor

The event is accompanied by a series of lectures at the Vincenzo Cardarelli municipal library, covering topics from medieval and early modern contrade history to animal welfare in historical re-enactments and the political role of the Vitelleschi family in the 15th century. A historical-technical committee ensures the authenticity of costumes and ceremonies.

A festival in the heart of Tuscia

The Palio is promoted by the Municipality of Tarquinia in collaboration with the Società Tarquiniense d'Arte e Storia, Pro Loco Tarquinia, Associazione Pro Tarquinia, and ASD Palio dell'Anello, with the patronage of the Lazio Region and the Province of Viterbo. For those visiting Tarquinia, world-famous for the Monterozzi Etruscan necropolis, the Palio is the perfect opportunity to discover the city's medieval soul: towers, Romanesque churches, and narrow alleys filled for a week with banners, costumes, and the beat of drums.