Palio della Vittoria

The reenactment of Anghiari that appealed to Leonardo da Vinci

Anghiari, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, located in the Valtiberina, hosts the ancient Palio della Vittoria. From 29 June 1441 is celebrated Florentine troops victory over Milan, which drew the boundaries of the Duchy of Tuscany. The same Leonardo da Vinci, on Commission of Medici family talking immortalized the importance by painting the battle in the Salone del Cinquecento of Palazzo Vecchio in Firenze.

Originally it ran both in Firenze and in Anghiari, today he is remembered only in the town of Valtiberina. It is one of the oldest piles of Tuscany and its peculiarity lies in the fact that you are not a traditional ride on horseback, but a charming and historic running race through the streets of the city; It traces the route of the battle that goes from the Majesty of Santa Maria alla Vittoria, until Piazza dei Mercanti (today Piazza Baldaccio).

Tuscany and its Palio tradition has been celebrated in Anghiari for four consecutive centuries, until 1827 when he was temporarily suspended because of the numerous fights that cost the life of a jockey, then resume towards the end of the nineteenth century. The mayor today at the stroke of 29 June announcing the challenge of the parade, the palio is run at sunset the shot of bombard. About one and a half kilometres of uphill where 72 competitors (7 for a maximum of 12 municipalities) will compete on behalf of their municipalities to win the palio.

 

Photo Credits [prolocoanghiari.info]