The Renaissance Festival of Acquasparta

Acquasparta, the village of Prince Federico Cesi

In Acquasparta, a municipality in the province of Terni in southern Umbria, history is not a backdrop but the heart of the festival. The Renaissance Festival re-enacts the era when Prince Federico Cesi chose the village as his residence: it was he, in 1603, who founded the Accademia dei Lincei – Europe's first scientific academy – and supported the research of Galileo Galilei. Palazzo Cesi, a splendid 16th-century residence, is still the symbolic centre of the event today.

The Three Contrade

For two weeks, Acquasparta is divided into three contrade that challenge each other in a series of trials and competitions: San Cristoforo (wine goblet on a white and blue field), Porta Vecchia (ancient gate on a yellow and blue field), and Il Ghetto (yellow griffin on a black and green field). The village comes alive with figures in Renaissance attire, artisan shops, taverns, and period encampments.

Parades, Competitions, and Shows

The opening is marked by the Great Parade of the Contrade, which winds through the historic centre with hundreds of costumed participants. In the following days, there is a gastronomic competition with 17th-century recipes cooked live, a drummers' competition, theatre challenges based on texts from before 1630, ladies' games, and the famous Game of the Goose, presented in a theatrical and live version. These are complemented by exhibitions of flag-wavers, lectures by prominent guests, and evening shows with acrobatics and fire performances.

A Quality Re-enactment in Southern Umbria

Now in its 27th edition, the Renaissance Festival is one of the most established historical re-enactments in southern Umbria. The philological accuracy of the costumes, the connection to a figure like Federico Cesi who was genuinely linked to the territory, and the choral participation of the entire Acquasparta community make it an event that successfully combines entertainment with historical and scientific dissemination.