Palio della Vittoria of Anghiari

The Palio della Vittoria, the historical soul of Anghiari

Every June 29th, the medieval village of Anghiari—one of Italy's most beautiful, nestled in the upper Valtiberina in the province of Arezzo—comes to a standstill to celebrate its signature event: the Palio della Vittoria. The festival commemorates the famous Battle of Anghiari, fought on June 29, 1440, when Florentine troops defeated the Milanese army of the Visconti, redrawing the borders of Tuscany. This clash was immortalized by Leonardo da Vinci in a famous, unfinished fresco intended for the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

A tradition spanning centuries

The Palio was born in 1441, the year after the battle, to celebrate the victory. The race was suspended in 1827 following a fatal accident and was only revived in its modern form in 2003. Since then, every edition gathers dozens of athletes representing numerous Italian municipalities: the last edition featured runners representing nineteen towns, from Florence to Arezzo, from Sansepolcro to Montepulciano, and even Città di Castello and Gubbio in neighboring Umbria.

The "craziest" race in Tuscany

The heart of the day is the uphill race: a challenging 1,440-meter course (a number referencing the year of the battle) that starts at the Cappella della Vittoria, located on the plain connecting Anghiari to Sansepolcro, and ends in Piazza Baldaccio Bruni, in the village's historic center. What makes this palio unique is that everything is allowed during the race: pushing, holding, and tackling are permitted to hinder opponents and help one's own captain. A challenge that requires strength, endurance, and strategy, rewarding the municipality represented by the winner with the coveted banner.

Historical pageants and medieval atmosphere

Before the race, Anghiari's historic center transforms into an open-air stage: soldiers, knights, ladies, musicians, and flag-wavers parade in historical costumes, accompanied by the processions of the participating municipalities and their mayors. The re-enactment culminates with the entry into Piazza Baldaccio Bruni, immersing residents and visitors in the atmosphere of the 15th-century Tuscany.

An event to experience in Anghiari

The Palio della Vittoria is much more than a sporting competition: it is the celebration of an entire community that, in the town of Anghiari and throughout the Province of Arezzo, proudly preserves its historical memory. The day concludes with the Victory Dinner along the ancient village walls, a convivial occasion to savor local dishes in the company of the Palio's protagonists and the citizenry.