From July 19th to August 10th, the city of Amelia travels back in time to the 14th century with historical parades, flag-throwers and traditional flavours, culminating in the evening of the Palio. On this occasion, the five districts — Collis, Crux Burgi, Posterola, Platea, and Valli — compete in a unique equestrian joust. The knights, dressed in traditional costumes, gallop toward each other on a 90-meter ring-shaped track, aiming to hit a small target with the tip of their lance in the shortest time possible. Each knight is paired with a crossbowman who, after every round, shoots an arrow at a target connected to a dovecote. If the arrow hits the mark, the dovecote opens, releasing a dove into flight. The district with the highest combined score from its knight and crossbowman wins the Palio, represented by a hand-painted fabric banner created for the occasion.

For more information, visit the website: www.paliodeicolombi.it