Rione San Secondo - Palio di Asti

A week full of events organised on the occasion of the Palio di Asti, Asti's traditional festival with medieval roots, which originated as part of the patron saint's celebrations of San Secondo, and culminates with a horse race ridden bareback, i.e. without a saddle.

The Rione San Secondo, commonly known as ‘del Santo’, is named after the patron saint. Located in the heart of the city, it includes, among other things, Piazza Alfieri, the site of the race. The Collegiate Church of San Secondo (dating back, in its present form, to the 13th century) is located in the district, and houses, in the crypt, a precious silver urn containing the mortal remains of the saint in whose name the Palio is run. The most important buildings of the city overlook Piazza San Secondo: Palazzo Civico in 18th-century style on pre-existing medieval buildings, Palazzo degli Antichi tribunali where justice was administered, and Palazzo del Podestà.

COLOURS: white and red

RECTOR: Federica Clerici

VICTORIES: 3

1982 - Mario Beccaris ‘Lo Scarus’ on Gamble on gold ‘Argento’- Rector: Gino Bonino

2000 (Extraordinary Palio) - Maurizio Farnetani ‘Bucefalo’ on Thera ‘Luna Rossa’ - Rector: Maurizio Bertolino

2007 - Giovanni Atzeni ‘Tittia’ on Impera - Rector: Marco Zappa

THEME OF THE PARADE: ‘The condition of women in the Middle Ages. Notions of customs through the Statutes of Asti'.

In mediaeval society, while men mainly devoted themselves to outside work and public duties, women were responsible for governing the family and the home unless they took the veil. Unlike men, women are usually described not by reference to specific activities, but by their marital status. An important function, as a guarantee for the woman and support for the family economy, was the dowry; this was the woman's personal ‘treasure’ and, depending on social status, the size of the dowry also changed. The humblest families offered a dowry consisting of sheets, towels, furnishings; the richest families, on the other hand, provided the bride with land, jewellery, large amounts of money and precious fabrics. In the procession, first the maidens paraded, then the brides of different social classes who brought their dowries, the nuns, the widows and, last of all, the harlots. We learn from the Statutes of Asti, collected in the so-called Codex Catenatus, that the latter were not allowed to wear gold or silver objects on their clothes, on their backs or on their heads, or silk cloths or furs of Vaio, on pain of a penalty of 60 Asti money.

THEME OF THE CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL COURT: ‘The marriage rite in the Middle Ages: the keystone of the social edifice’.

Marriage in the Middle Ages was defined as the establishment of a socially recognised alliance, which was the prerequisite for legitimate descent, for political, economic or social convenience. Marriage contracts and chronicles of illustrious marriages attest that, for instance, in the 13th century, a woman could be betrothed as early as seven years of age and conclude the marriage ‘contract’ at twelve. It was the ritual that gave a public dimension to marriage by involving the entire community. In the streets of the city, in the nuptial procession (traductio), white-clad maidens scattered flower petals and others threw wheat as a wish for fertility and abundance on the bride and groom dressed in red. A veil was placed over them to symbolise the union (velatio nuptialis). With the deductio ad domum, whereby the bride was then taken to her husband's house, the trousseau and gifts were brought, including jewellery, embroidered fabrics, silk veils, furs.

FANTINO: Valter Pusceddu ‘Bighino’ - Palios run: 23; Finals disputed: 12; Palios won: 1 (2015 - San Paolo)