Palio of the Normans Piazza Armerina

The Norman Palio of Piazza Armerina, the only nationally recognized and internationally renowned Sicilian historical reenactment, is a reenactment of Count Roger of Hauteville’s entry into the city in 1061, having defeated the Saracens and taken possession of Platia, the city then located on the ruins of the Roman Villa del Casale. The reenactment has been held continuously since 1952, when, for the first time, it replaced a centuries-old tradition, that of the “Cavalcata,” a sort of horseback procession that took place on August 14th. It is based on the 17th-century tradition that gave the city the name Plutia, which, although never found in historical sources, is an oral tradition that is still alive today.

The Palio dei Normanni takes place over three days from August 12th to 14th each year, following a precise schedule, and features the four neighborhoods into which the Old City is divided: Monte, Castellina, Canali, and Casalotto. On August 12th, in the splendid setting of the city’s historic center, the parades of the four neighborhoods, the Rullanti di Plutia, and the parades of the associations that contribute to organizing the event, departing from various gathering points, converge in Piazzetta Semini, in front of the Municipal Theater, where the Grand Magistrate of the City hands over weapons to the jousting knights of the four neighborhoods. On August 13th, the various parades converge in Piazza Cattedrale, in the acropolis of the historic center, where, at the foot of the majestic Palazzo Trigona, Count Ruggero and his troops are welcomed by the dignitaries and ladies of Plutia. Roger dismounts from his horse in the center of the square, the Grand Magistrate of Plutia approaches him and offers him the keys to the City.

On August 14th, the Giostra del Saraceno takes place at the Sant’Ippolito sports field, pitting knights from the city’s four historic neighborhoods against each other. The neighborhood teams are made up of five jousting knights. They must overcome four challenges, all performed with their horses galloping: striking the Saracen’s shield with a lance; striking the Saracen’s shield with a club; striking a ring on the Saracen with a lance; and, finally, throwing a javelin through a ring placed five meters above the ground on a gallop. At sunset, the winning neighborhood is awarded a replica of the image of Our Lady of Victories for a year, along with a Palio painted by a contemporary artist.