The knights' joust
Every summer, Ascoli Piceno relives the Middle Ages with the Quintana, one of the most spectacular historical re-enactments in Italy, inspired by the town's statutes of 1377, which already mentioned a tournament held in honour of the patron saint, Sant'Emidio. The six districts of the city, the "sestieri", Piazzarola, Porta Maggiore, Porta Romana, Porta Solestà, Porta Tufilla and Sant'Emidio, each with its own colours, coats of arms and passionate supporters, challenge each other in a joust on horseback: the knights, in medieval armour, gallop at full speed along an eight-shaped track and must strike with their lance the shield of a wooden and metal figure, the "Moro", the Saracen, a rotating dummy that represents the enemy, scoring points according to the accuracy of the hit.
The Quintana is held twice a year: in July, in a night edition dedicated to the Madonna della Pace, and above all on the first Sunday of August, in honour of Saint Emidius, in the Campo dei Giochi. On the day of the tournament, the city is transformed: a great historical parade of about 1,500 people in splendid fifteenth century costumes, nobles, ladies, knights, flag-wavers, musicians, crossbowmen and soldiers, parades through the streets of the historic centre to Piazza del Popolo and then to the field, in one of the most beautiful costumed parades in Italy. In the weeks before, the city is decorated with the flags of the sestieri, and the districts organise dinners, events and the flag-wavers' competition. The winning sestiere receives the "Palio", a painted banner, and celebrates all night.
Tip: book a seat in the stands of the Campo dei Giochi well in advance; watch the parade from Piazza del Popolo.
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