Maybe we could quote Manzoni:
“contending which should victor be”

The four “Contrade” of Isola (San Giuseppe, La Gerre, Porta Tenca and San Bernardino) clash in bloodless battles fought with cocks, stilts, rope and stones.
After the slow parade of ladies and knights, flag fliers and armigers, at the arrival of the nobles “get ready for games time”.
The cock race and the stilts race, the tug-of-war and the “màgher” (game of the old times when there weren’t video games and when you could have great fun with simple things) shake the audience.

Involvement, enthusiasm and all the “contradaioli” set out to conquer the coveted “Palio”.

A bit of history:
This year the Palio turns 50 since the first edition dates back to 1967. The Palio remembers the rule of the House of Gonzaga an Isola Dovarese celebrated with a town festival the arrival of the marquis Lodovico Gonzaga and Barbara of Brandenburg in the 2nd half of 1400.

A note:
The festival takes place every year on September.
If you missed it this year, make an entry in your diary: the Palio is not to be missed, we can assure you.

For more info:
fantasy tale travel: palio
/www.proloco-isola.org/mevents/il-palio/
/www.palioisola.it/
borgo-italia: Isola Dovarese