The Gaite Market
The great medieval re-enactment of Bevagna among the four Gaite
About Gaite Market
Bevagna Returns to the Middle Ages
The Mercato delle Gaite is one of the most rigorous and fascinating medieval re-enactments in Italy. Every year, at the end of June, Bevagna — ancient Roman Mevania, in the province of Perugia — reconstructs with great historical accuracy the life of the communal city between 1250 and 1350. The village is divided into the four Gaite (historic districts): San Giovanni, San Giorgio, Santa Maria, and San Pietro.
The Four Competitions
The Gaite compete throughout the year in preparation for four competitions: the Crafts Competition (Artes Gaitarum), in which each Gaita exhibits medieval artisan workshops; the Gastronomic Competition, with dishes recreated from period recipe books; the Market Competition; and the Historical Archery Competition. The workshops reproduce crafts such as the handmade paper mill, the candle maker, the glassblower, the mint, the silk weaver, the dyer, the hydraulic sawmill, and the scriptorium.
A Village That Becomes a Medieval City
Along the streets of the center, medieval taverns with period cuisine open, public markets with artisans, street performances with jugglers and artists, concerts of ancient music, workshops, exhibitions, and historical pageants take place. Included among the major re-enactments in Umbria, the Mercato delle Gaite is organized by the Mercato delle Gaite Association with the Municipality of Bevagna and represents the deepest identity of this corner of the Umbrian valley.
Gaite Market — edition 2026
The Mercato delle Gaite 2026 is dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis. The event opens with the Medieval Banquet on June 1st (8:30 PM, Piazza Filippo Silvestri) on the theme "Laudato Sii - In the Time of Brother Francis", before coming to life from June 17 to 28 with the four Gaite — San Giovanni, San Giorgio, Santa Maria, and San Pietro — engaged in competitions and the reconstruction of 14th-century Bevagna.
Programme Gaite Market 2026
Main Dates
- June 1, 8:30 PM — Medieval Banquet in Piazza Filippo Silvestri, theme "Laudato Sii - In the Time of Brother Francis"
- June 17-28 — Mercato delle Gaite: workshops, taverns, markets, and competitions
The Eight Medieval Crafts in Competition
- Ceramics, glassmaking, mint
- Handmade paper and hemp processing
- Silk (silk weaving), hydraulic sawmill
- Dyeing and scriptorium
The Four Competitions
- Crafts Competition (Artes Gaitarum)
- Gastronomic Competition (one traditional dish per Gaita)
- Market Competition
- Historical Archery Competition
On the final weekend, four public markets with artisans open. Four medieval taverns offer period cuisine. The detailed day-by-day program and the complete PDF are published on the official website ilmercatodellegaite.it.
Highlights Gaite Market 2026
Prices Gaite Market 2026
Practical information — Gaite Market
How to Get There
Bevagna can be reached by car from the SS3 Flaminia or the SS316 dei Monti Martani; exit Foligno from the SS75. The nearest train station is Foligno, on the Rome-Ancona line, from which you can continue by bus. Parking is available outside the walls.
Taverns and Tickets
The four medieval taverns offer period cuisine; booking is recommended. For the program, times, and tickets, consult the official website ilmercatodellegaite.it.
Contacts
Mercato delle Gaite Association — [email protected] — tel. 0742 361847.
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Where does it take place — Gaite Market
Centro storico di Bevagna
Piazza Filippo Silvestri, 06031 Bevagna