Sagra di Baggio

Almost four centuries of history

The Sagra di Baggio is the historic festival of the Baggio neighbourhood, in the western part of Milan (Municipality 7, Province of Milan, Lombardy). It has been held continuously since 1628, the year it was established to celebrate the opening of the parish of Sant'Apollinare (the current Old Church) to the public, and in 2026 it will reach the incredible milestone of the 398th edition. A continuity that makes it one of the longest-standing traditions in the Lombard capital.

The Palio degli Asini

The most characteristic symbol of the sagra is the Palio degli Asini (or donkey race), linked to an ancient legend: it is said that a hungry donkey, to graze, climbed the bell tower of Sant'Apollinare. Today the race is a sort of palio in which citizens, divided into teams, run on foot, each accompanying a donkey covered with a differently coloured cloth. A jovial and identity-building moment that brings the whole village together.

Three days of celebration

For three days, during the third week of October, Baggio comes alive with food stalls, concerts, shows, dancing, games for adults and children, and entertainment for all ages. The sagra keeps alive the village spirit of a neighbourhood that, despite being incorporated into the metropolis, retains a strong identity and a deep sense of community.

A neighbourhood tradition

The event is organised by the Comitato Sagra di Baggio with the patronage of Municipality 7. Its importance for the community is also evidenced by history: as early as the 19th century, under Mayor Camillo Nava, public funding for the municipal band was linked to the commitment to play at the Sagra di Baggio.