Palio of Mozzate

The Palio dei Rioni of Mozzate

In the north of the Province of Como, bordering the Varesotto and the high Milanese area, Mozzate preserves a tradition that draws the entire community every year: the Palio di Mozzate. The event, organized in the first two weeks of September, is linked to the patronal feast of Sant'Alessandro, the town's protector, and pits the city's districts against each other in a competition of parades, games, and a sense of belonging.

Historical Parades and Ceremonies

The opening of the Palio is a moment of great suggestion: the historical costume parade reaches the church of Sant'Alessandro, where mass is celebrated and the brazier is lit on the parvis. This is followed by the oath of the captains, the elders, and the jury president, and an evening concert at the oratory. It is the prelude to the days of challenge between the districts, who compete in trials and games to win the Cencio, the painted banner that an artist creates specifically each year.

The Competing Districts

Historically, four districts animate the Palio: La Torre, Mornera, Bozzente, and Solaro. Each fields participants in historical costumes, teams, and supporters, in a climate of healthy rivalry that involves the entire town. The event, now in its 23rd edition in 2025, combines the religious dimension of the patronal feast with the civil and folkloric aspect of the palio, accompanied by food stalls and evening events.

For Mozzate, the Palio is much more than a competition: it is the moment when the neighborhoods recognize each other, generations meet, and the town's identity is renewed around its patron saint.