VeNETia - Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics

Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics

Pisa, 4 ^th June 2006

A yearly boat race between the four Italian Maritime Republics that sailed the seas in medieval times is hosted, in turn, on the Mediterranean at Amalfi and Genoa, on the Arno in Pisa and on the lagoon in Venice, to commemorate the historical figures and memories of the four cities. The spectacular event is preceded by a great historical pageant of 400 boaters with participants in period costumes: flags and festoons, trumpets and drums, horses and sedan-chairs add glamour to the solemn procession. Then the race begins: four boats, called “galleons”, represent the four seafaring Republics. Each is marked by different colours and figureheads: deep blue with a winged horse for Amalfi; white with a winged dragon for Genoa; crimson with an eagle for Pisa; and emerald green the St. Mark's lion for Venice. They compete in a two thousand-metre race, each crew bearing their Republic’s colours. The feast ends with the awarding of the trophy, a medieval galleon, which is held for one year by the city whose team won the Regatta and then is returned and offered again as the prize in the following year's Regatta.