Palio delle Quattro Porte

A Palio in honor of Jacobella Caetani

The Palio delle Quattro Porte is the grand historical re-enactment of Vallecorsa, a village in the southern Ciociaria region near Frosinone. Established in 2007, the event pays tribute to Jacobella Caetani, Countess of Fondi, a noblewoman who, according to historical records, lived in Vallecorsa with her court during the early 15th century while in exile from her county. For nearly a week between late August and early September, the village is adorned with banners and period costumes, as the four districts compete for the drappone, a painted banner dedicated to the Countess.

Four gates, four districts

The competing districts correspond to the four historical entrance gates of the village: Porta Nova, Porta De Suso, Porta De Missore, and Porta Sant'Angelo. Each gate is traditionally linked to a noble family or historical figure—from the Caetani to the Colonna—and each district fields its own cast of performers, knights, ladies, and athletes. The rivalry is fierce yet festive: the official roll of honor, carefully preserved by the community, tells the story of years of neck-and-neck challenges, with Porta Nova often taking the lead.

Traditional folk games

The competitive heart of the Palio is a series of traditional folk games passed down through the farming culture of Vallecorsa, held in the squares of the historic center:

• Tug-of-war between the district teams;
• Sack races through the village streets;
• Corsa cu ju circhio, the hoop race;
• Corsa cu ju cuncouno, featuring traditional water containers;
• The votte and méila trials, named in the local dialect;
• A living board game version of the Game of the Goose;
• The musical, the performance event that awards the highest points and turns each district into a theater troupe.

Historical pageant, musicals, and the Short Film Contest

Alongside the games, the program features the annual 15th-century historical pageant, with ladies, knights, and flag-wavers parading through the historic center to evoke the Countess's court. The final evenings are dedicated to the district musicals—elaborate shows featuring sets built by the residents. Over the years, the Palio has also added the Gara del Corto, a short film competition that brings local-themed productions and industry-expert juries to Vallecorsa.

Vallecorsa, a thousand-year-old village in Ciociaria

The Palio is also an opportunity to discover Vallecorsa, a millenary village perched on the Ausoni Mountains between the Amaseno Valley and the Fondi plain. Located in the heart of the Ciociaria region in Lazio, the town preserves a historic center of alleys, stairways, and the very gates that give the festival its name, all surrounded by famous olive terraces supported by dry-stone walls that define the local hilly landscape.

A recognized re-enactment

The Palio delle Quattro Porte is listed on the Ministry of Culture's historical re-enactments platform, confirming the cultural value of a festival that blends historical memory, community spirit, and popular tradition. Organized with the involvement of the Pro Loco and the local districts, the Palio is now one of the most anticipated events of the summer in the province of Frosinone.