Palio dei Borghi di Avigliana

We recently had a large medieval festival in our town, with festivities that lasted over several weekends. Lying in the lower valley of the Dora Riparia, at the end of the Susa Valley, the town has always held a strategic position between France and Italy.

The festival, called, Palio dei borghi di Avigliana, is a re-enactment of a huge feast that took place in 1389 when Valentina Visconti, the daughter of Gian Galeazzo Visconti lord of Milan, passed through Avigliana directed to France to meet her Betrothed, Louis de Turenne(the brother of the French king). The festivities end with a tournament and horserace. The Palio takes place among the 8 original boroughs(which is each a different section of town), but also groups from other places take part to the games( a little history lesson for you). Our neighbors take part every year and dress up(about 700 people dress up in medieval costume to participate). Here are some pictures from the event....

















Our neighbors