Palio delle Quadre di Chiari

A week of challenges between the Quadre

In Chiari, in the province of Brescia, the Palio delle Quadre is much more than a summer event: it is the event that tells the identity of the city. The institution was founded in 1979 and pits the four historic Quadre in which the inhabited center is traditionally divided — Cortezzano, Marengo, Villatico, and Zeveto — against each other, each with its own colors, its own supporters, and its own neighborhood pride.

Sport, shows, and historical costume

For about a week, the heart of the city, and particularly Piazza Zanardelli, comes alive with a packed program. Among the most anticipated events is the international pole vault, a high-level athletics competition that brings renowned athletes to Chiari, alongside cycling races, tournaments, and sporting events that award points to the Quadre. There are also concerts, evening shows, food stalls, and the grand historical costume parade, which precedes the Palio race, the concluding moment that crowns the winning Quadra.

A community ritual

The Palio is organized by the Comitato Palio delle Quadre with the support of the city. Every year, thousands of Chiari residents experience this week as a collective celebration of positive local pride, tradition, and conviviality. The 47th edition took place between the end of August and the beginning of September 2025; the event is usually renewed in the first week of September, confirming the Palio delle Quadre as one of the most important identity events in the Bassa Bresciana region.