A wonderful event that brings you back to a medieval age
Mondaino is a nice, small medieval village on the top of a hill not far from Rimini. Situated 420 metres above the sea level it rises among the mountains on the border between Marche and Romagna. It is located in the Valconca valley. Obviously Mondaino has a cultural heritage that lives in its folkloristic event; expecially on summer. One of these is the Palio del Daino, one of the most important medieval events in Emilia Romagna.
This Palio starts on Thursday till the Sunday after 15th August, every year since 1988. This year it starts on the 21st and ends on the 24th of August. Every year Mondaino, during this medieval festival, welcomes over 20 thousand visitors from different regions of Italy and lots of people from other countries like United Kingdom and Germany.
The village
This village is just 37 km from Rimini. There is a magical circular square in the center of Mondaino and small alleys to visit. The Palio recalls the day when, centuries ago, Count Federico of Montefeltro met Sigismondo Malatesta of Rimini.
Every evening, this charming historical event is brought to life by dozens of actors, acrobats, jugglers and musicians. Traditionally, the parade of honour reaches in the main square, Piazza Maggiore, giving the start of the evening’s celebrations.
The Palio
Mondaino is a medieval town, what a wonderful location for such a show!
The Palio del Daino is one of Italy’s first medieval festivals and, at present, one of the best organized. It is well known and awarded by the Consortium of European Re-enactment Societies.
Visitors will find artisan workshops, musicians playing medieval songs, historical procession, hawks and falconers in the main square. Not only, you will be able to see the challenge between the 4 districts of Mondaino called The Geese Race. The geese ‘run’ all along Roma Street till the arrival line in Maggiore Square. The Palio takes the town 5 centuries back in the past and Mondaino’s people will be protagonists of this realm, themselves, like soldiers or crossbowmen, falconers, flag wavers in procession, preachers and pilgrims. During these 4 days the 4 districts (Castle, Borgo, Contado and Montebello) will fight for the ‘gonfalone’.
Useful information
Ticket: entrance costs 10.00 euro, free entrance for children up to 14 years old.
How to get there: by the public bus (n. 174 – 175 – 180) of START Romagna or by car driving along the A14 highway and exiting in Cattolica (Mondaino is 15 km far from this point)
Where to sleep: Locanda Pomarancio in Mondaino
What to visit: Mondaino, Saludecio, Republic of San Marino
