Palio dei Normanni in Piazza Armerina

The Palio, which is a banner depicting the Virgin and Child painted every year by a famous painter, is contested between the knights of the four districts who wear the following colors:

• Monte-yellow
• Canali-red
• Castellina-blue
• Casalotto-green

Each district is represented by five knights.

The events follow one another with the following program:

August 5th - the silver reliquary containing the image of Maria SS. delle Vittorie is descended from the altar, in the presence of all God's people and local authorities, and placed on the coffin. On this occasion all the knights of the four districts dressed in costume carry a votive lamp, one for each quarter, which is placed at the side of the image on a special gilded wooden pedestal.

August 12th - from the main square of each district (Monte - Crucifix floor;

Canali - piazza Regione Siciliana; Castellina - Largo Santa Veneranda; Casalotto - Piazza Carmine) the representative processions of each respective district, formed by the group of drums, the nobles and the jousting knights, leave and go to Piazza Semini (in front of the Garibaldi Theater). Here the Grand Magistrate, who represents the power of the city, delivers the public announcement to the auctioneer and the weapons to each individual jousting knight. This manifestation is performed between the rolls of drums and the sounds of trumpets.

At the end of this ceremony, all the participants form a procession and, to the roll of the drums and the sound of trumpets, they walk the main streets of the city and go to the Cathedral where they receive the blessing and where the Grand Magistrate gives the votive lamp which is placed in front of the case containing the image of Maria SS. of Victories.

August 13th - the processions of each district start from their respective squares and go, amidst the rollings of drums and the sounds of trumpets, to Piazza Duomo. At the same time, from the square in front of the Commercial Institute, the procession of the troops of Count Ruggero is composed. This is formed by the Count Roger on horseback, by the commander of the troops and by various platoons with their respective flag and commander. Each platoon is armed differently and with different costumes: spearmen, archers, crossbowmen, halberdiers, noble guards, banner guards, Vikings, etc. a platoon of Saracens and a platoon of mounted soldiers. In addition there is the group consisting of two monks and the executioner with the ax on his shoulders. The procession thus formed, along the streets of the city, at the roll of the tread drums, goes to Piazza Duomo where it is welcomed with great celebration between the sound of bells, drum rolls, trumpet blasts and applause from the numerous spectators. Here the auctioneer reads the Public Announcement and, immediately after, the Grand Magistrate symbolically hands over the keys of the city to Count Roger. At the end of this representation, the whole procession is composed including the Norman troops, the nobles of the city (knights, ladies, bridesmaids and pageboys) and the platoons of the four districts of the City and along the main city streets, applauded by the large crowd, retires to their respective lodges.

August 14th - the parades of the districts and the procession of the Norman troops, starting from their respective sites and along the main streets of the city, go to the Piano S. Ippolito (sports field or in Piazzese jargon “chianu t'rrmotu”). Once there, the Auctioneer reads the announcement again and Count Ruggero, raising his sword, starts the joust. This is divided into two parts: in the first part the riders, launching the horse at a gallop, must hit the Saracen's shield with different weapons, a simulacrum previously positioned on a revolving pin; in the second part, still with the horse at a gallop, they have to throw the javelin and pierce the paper disc positioned 5 meters high. All according to strict regulations that define the methods of execution and behavior, as well as respect for the horse; a score is assigned according to the result obtained by the jouster.

The race is performed alternately by a knight for each district and is commanded by the commander of the joust.

This is the description of the first part:

1st race - the rider, at the start, launches the horse at a gallop and with the lance on the crest must hit the shield of the Saracen (score from 2 to 20);

2st race- the rider, always at the start and with the horse at a gallop, must hit the Saracen's shield with the club (score from 2 to 20);

3st race - the shield is removed from the Saracen and a ring of about 10 centimeters in diameter is placed to which the ribbons of the color of the knight who is jousting are tied; the latter, having received the start and with the horse at a gallop, must take the ring with the point of the spear (score 20).

The second part consists of a single test which in principle is the one that defines the winning district of the Palio.

4st race - the rider, at the start and with the horse at a gallop, must throw the javelin and must pierce the paper disc placed at the top (score 25).

The Palio is won, to the applause and cheering of supporters, by the district that managed to score the highest score.

The rider who had the best behavior on the field and achieved the best score is also awarded a cup.

The race is attended by tens of thousands of spectators every year as well as political and ecclesiastical authorities.

At the end of the event, the procession is recomposed and walking through the streets of the city among crowded wings of applauding spectators and praising the winning district, it retreats to its respective lodges, late at night.