Torneo dei Quartieri Gran Leò de Jesi

A tournament that revives the Jesi of the past

The Torneo dei Quartieri Gran Leò de Jesi is a popular event that brings back one of the city's most beloved traditions. In the Municipality of Jesi, in the province of Ancona, in the heart of the Vallesina region, the tournament pits the ten District Committees against each other in a playful and good-natured challenge, focused on local pride and shared fun. The setting is the Public Gardens of Viale Cavallotti, Jesi's most frequented green space.

Origins: from the eighties to today

The Gran Leò has its roots in the Jesi of the eighties and nineties: between 1989 and 1992, four editions enlivened the city's summer evenings. After decades of silence, the event was revived on the initiative of the municipal administration, bringing back games and atmospheres that many Jesi residents remember fondly. Today, the tournament is open to participants of all ages, with teams composed of competitors from 18 to 70 years old, confirming its intergenerational and popular character.

Traditional games

The heart of the Gran Leò lies in its traditional games, which are simple to understand and spectacular to watch. The district teams compete in three challenges with unmistakably local names:

• The sack race, an timeless classic of village festivals;
• 'l padellò de lo stagnaro, a skill test that recalls the trades of the past;
• 'l cigno dei giardì, an identity-linked game tied to the city's Public Gardens.

Each team fields approximately six to ten participants, representing their District Committee. The competition is friendly but keenly felt: winning the Gran Leò means carrying the pride of one's district for the entire following year.

A festival for the whole city

More than just a race, the Gran Leò is an occasion for socialising in Jesi. The evenings in the Public Gardens attract families, district supporters, and curious onlookers, in a community festival atmosphere. The event is part of the Jesi Estate (Jesi Summer) calendar, the programme of events that animates the city from mid-June to September, and culminates with the award ceremony during the Notte Azzurra (Blue Night), the great Jesi sports festival that closes the summer season. For those visiting the Marche region at the end of summer, the Gran Leò is the perfect opportunity to discover the most authentic and convivial side of the Vallesina.