Palio delle Corti

The Palio delle Corti: Ceprano relives the Middle Ages

Every year, in the second half of October, the historic center of Ceprano, in the province of Frosinone, transforms into a grand medieval stage. The Palio delle Corti is one of the most heartfelt historical re-enactments in Ciociaria and the entire Lazio region: for an entire weekend, the streets and squares of the town step back nearly eight centuries, filled with costumed processions, drums, flag-wavers, and the scent of medieval taverns.

The history: the submission of Manfred of Sicily

The event commemorates an episode that truly occurred in Ceprano on October 11, 1254: the submission of Manfred of Sicily, an excommunicated prince, to the will of Pope Innocent IV. The meeting took place on the bridge over the Liri River, the historic border between the Kingdom of Sicily and the Papal States, marking a crucial moment in the long conflict between temporal and spiritual power, between the Empire and the Papacy. As a frontier city, Ceprano is remembered for these medieval events even by Dante in the Divine Comedy.

The historical procession and the re-enactment

The heart of the festival is the grand historical costume procession, with ladies, knights, men-at-arms, commoners, and performers parading through the town streets to the bridge over the Liri, where the re-enactment of the meeting between the Pope and the Swabian prince takes place. The papal vesting, the sword duel between knights, and the performances of flag-wavers with clarions punctuate the days.

The program: games, shows, and a medieval market

Alongside the re-enactment, the Palio delle Corti offers a rich entertainment program for all ages:

• Historical archery contest between the districts, with the thrilling launch of flaming arrows onto the Liri River;
• Traditional games, jugglers, acrobats, jesters, and fire-eaters;
• Performances by falconers with hawks and birds of prey;
• Artisan workshops and a medieval market featuring ancient crafts, handmade goods, antiques, and curiosities;
• Gastronomic trail and taverns serving traditional dishes, culminating in a medieval lunch.

The "Due Mondi" show

One of the most evocative moments of the event is the itinerant theatrical performance "Due Mondi" (Two Worlds), which guides the audience from the gardens of the Villa Comunale along the main streets to the bridge, the symbolic site of the re-enactment. Dancers, falconers, fire-eaters, jesters, musicians, archers, and actors transform the center of Ceprano into one large, open-air theater for an immersive and engaging experience.

Ceprano and Ciociaria

Organized by the Pro Loco of Ceprano together with the Municipality of Ceprano, the Palio delle Corti is now a defining event for the local identity. Visiting it is also an opportunity to discover Ciociaria, a land of villages, abbeys, and authentic flavors in the heart of southern Lazio, halfway between Rome and Cassino along the historic Via Casilina.