Sagra della Paciarèla e Palio del Pane

A historical reenactment in Martesana

The Sagra della Paciarèla e Palio del Pane is the great historical festival of Gessate (Metropolitan City of Milan), born in 1971. It takes place on the first Sunday of October and commemorates a local historical event: the dispute between the people of Gessate and Count Bonesana, brought to life through performances, parades, and a challenge between the town's districts.

The Palio del Pane and the four districts

The heart of the event is the Palio del Pane, the competition that pits the four historic districts of Gessate against each other:

• Badia, Castellaccio, Cittadella, and San Pancrazio, the four competing districts;
• Historical reenactment of the dispute with Count Bonesana (Saturday evening);
• Parade in period costume on Sunday afternoon;
• Medieval atmosphere along Via Badia and in the town center.

Memory and identity

The Sagra della Paciarèla is much more than a festival: it is how Gessate preserves its historical memory and strengthens the bond between its districts. The reenactment, with its costumes, scenes, and the Palio, involves the entire community and attracts visitors from all over Martesana and the Milan area, in one of the most characteristic autumn festivals in the region.