Palio della Balestra – Gubbio e Sansepolcro

Close your holiday in Tuscany, among the most popular Umbria's evocative events, a special position is occupied by the Balestra's Palio. This palio is an ancient joust practised on the last sunday of May in Gubbio and the second sunday of Semptember in Sansepolcro that, in the scenery of the feast for their respective patron saint Sant'Ubaldo and San Giovanni Evangelista, rappresents one of the highlights.
This competition (Palio) of throw with crossbow (Balestra) has very ancient origin in fact the use of this weapon was testified also by distinguished painters like Piero della Francesca while the first document goes back up to XV century. Theatres of this contest are: the famous Grande Square in Gubbio and the fascinating Square Torre di Berta in Sansepolcro... both these places will be easily reachable from our Villa Le Fonti in Tuscany. In according to the tradition, the morning of the Balestra's Palio the Gubbio or Sansepolcro herald reads the challenge notification to the rival and so in the afternoon, after the weapon blessing, the crossbower dressed in traditional costume enter in the crowded square during the sound of the drums and with the coreografy of many flags. Balestra Palio is starting! The series of arrows fired in a surreal silence gives to the square and the tourists ancient magics of far ages relived for a day in the Umbria of today thanks to the Palio of the Balestra... all these emotions and much more during your tuscan holiday!