Palio of Saint Peter Celestine V – Ring Joust of Ferentino

A joust that ignites the heart of Ferentino

The Palio of Saint Peter Celestine V, with its Ring Joust, is the most anticipated historical re-enactment of the year in Ferentino, an ancient Ernican city perched on a hill in Ciociaria, in the province of Frosinone, Lazio. Every September, the cyclopean walls and alleys of the historic center provide the backdrop for a festival where the entire community comes together, blending medieval memory, district pride, and a passion for horses.

The four competing gates

The city is ideally divided into its four historic gates, the districts that drive the competition: Porta del Borgo (Sant'Agata), Porta Montana, Porta San Francesco, and Porta Sanguinaria. Each fields its own knights, costumed participants, and supporters, creating a playful rivalry that, during the festival days, involves families and entire neighborhoods.

The Ring Joust

The heart of the event is the Ring Joust, held in the arena set up at the Rotonda del Vascello, along Via G. Marconi, transformed for the occasion into a competition field with dirt, hay bales, and barriers. The knights of the four gates, charging at a gallop, must strike a ring held by a Saracen figure with their lances, repeating the feat over several rounds: the district that scores the most hits in the shortest time with the fewest penalties wins. The challenge, suspended between skill and courage, is preceded by the evocative historical pageant in period costumes, with ladies, knights, flag-wavers, and drummers parading through the city streets.

«Ferentino è»: the festival surrounding the Palio

The Palio is the grand finale of the city festival «Ferentino è», which for several days enlivens the town squares—from Piazza Matteotti to Piazza Mazzini, from the Rotonda del Vascello to Piazza Martino Filetico—with a rich program of live music, shows, talk shows, fashion shows, and street food. Highly anticipated are the district dinners, where each of the four gates opens its own tavern to welcome residents and visitors with traditional Ciociarian dishes.

History and identity

The event, dedicated to the figure of Saint Peter Celestine V, has established itself over the years as one of the most deep-rooted historical re-enactments in the Frosinone area: the 2025 edition marked its twenty-second year, a sign of a now-consolidated tradition. Organized by the Municipality of Ferentino with the Pro Loco Luigi Sonni APS and the support of the Lazio Region, the Palio is much more than a race: it is an occasion where Ferentino rediscovers its roots and history, offering visitors an authentic dive into the medieval atmosphere of Ciociaria.