Palio dell'Anello (with the Transhumance March and Transhumant Festival)

The Palio dell'Anello in Cisterna di Latina

In the heart of summer, when Corso della Repubblica is transformed into a packed sand track, Cisterna di Latina celebrates one of its most defining traditions: the Palio dell'Anello. It is a festival dedicated to equestrian culture and the ancient trade of the butteri, the mounted herdsmen who for centuries guarded the herds of the Agro Pontino and the Roman countryside. The event, promoted by the Municipality of Cisterna di Latina in the province of Latina, in the heart of the Lazio region, brings together dozens of riders every year from the towns of the Lepini Mountains and the Castelli Romani.

The Ring Joust

The core of the event is the ring joust, a test of both speed and precision: galloping along the sand track, riders must spear a series of suspended rings and deliver them to the race judge. A new set of regulations, approved by the City Council, governs the challenge with a particular focus on the safety of spectators and animals: each town participates with a maximum of four riders, for a total that can reach up to forty competitors, divided into multiple heats. Recent Palios have featured riders from Artena, Cori, Lariano, Norma, Rocca Massima, Segni, Sermoneta, Sezze, Velletri, and, of course, Cisterna. The winner receives the palio, a banner painted by a local artist.

The Transhumance March

The Palio is the highlight of a broader program, opened by the Transhumance March, which re-enacts the ancient route of the shepherds on horseback. A caravan of horses and riders sets off from the Falasche, on the coast of Anzio, and over several days reaches Jenne, passing through Cisterna, Artena, Paliano, Serrone, and Trevi nel Lazio. In Cisterna, the caravan is welcomed at Il Filetto equestrian center, where it stops for the night before continuing its journey: millennia of pastoral history come alive through the sound of hooves on the old drovers' roads.

The Transhumant Festival

Alongside the equestrian tradition is the Transhumant Festival, held at the Falasche during the days of the March: an opportunity to discover the flavors and typical products linked to pastoralism and the peasant cuisine of the Agro Pontino, confirming the growing interest in this centuries-old culture.

Atmosphere and Evening in the Square

After the challenges on the track, the festivities move to the square with folk dances, music, and the awarding of the winning rider. Among the crowd filling Corso della Repubblica, the event unites young and old in a true community celebration, capable of blending historical re-enactment, equestrian spectacle, and conviviality. The Palio dell'Anello remains one of the most anticipated events of the Cisterna summer and a symbol of the Pontine identity.