Palio di San Rufino 2019

Palio di San Rufino is a historical reenactment event held every year in Assisi on the last Sunday of August and the previous three days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

Palio di San Rufino is a crossbow shooting competition between the three historical districts (terzieri) of the city: San Francesco, San Rufino and Santa Maria. The Palio, a banner painted by a renowned artist, is awarded to the winning team, while the crossbowman who gets the highest score in the single-shot competition receives the Balestrina d’Argento (the Silver Crossbow).

The festival begins with the opening of a thematic exhibition, the theatrical performance and the historical market of San Rufino, which recalls the traditional town fair that took place during the days of the celebration of the patron saint of the city, San Rufino. Today, the market exhibits characteristic crafts and antiques along a route that goes from Piazza della Chiesa Nuova, through via Arco dei Priori, Volta Pinta, to Piazza del Comune.

In the next days, the Palio continues with the investiture of the crossbowmen, followed by the shooting contest between the three teams of the Compagnia Balestrieri di Assisi, each representing one of the three districts.

PALIO DI SAN RUFINO 2019 will take place between 22 and 25 of August, after the following schedule:

Thursday, August 22:

• Opening of the thematic exhibition.
• Theatrical show of the Compagnia Balestrieri di Assisi.
• San Rufino Market.

Friday, August 23:

• Theatrical show of the Compagnia Balestrieri di Assisi.
• San Rufino Market.

Saturday, August 24:

• Historical procession starting from Piazza del Comune to the Cathedral of San Rufino.
• Investiture of the new crossbowmen.
• Propitiatory banquet.

Sunday, August 25:

• Historical procession from Piazza del Comune to Piazza San Rufino.
• Crossbow shooting competition.
• Prize-giving ceremony with the intervention of local authorities who will hand over the Palio to the winning team and the Silver Crossbow to the winner of the individual competition.