If you happen to be in Passignano during the week of 21-29 July, you will find yourself in the midst of a fascinating and stimulating feast: Il Palio delle Barche. Along the beautiful lakeshore, there will be shows of travelling jugglers, mini-markets and exhibitions, all wrapped up in lovely music. But the most important event takes place on the final Sunday of July with the thrilling competition among the four neighbourhoods.
The four participants challenge one another to a running competition carrying boats on their shoulders through the narrow streets of the historic centre and then in the boats on the lake. Each neighbourhood can be identified by its particular colours: rione San Donato is red and blue, rione Centro Storico “La Regina“ is white and red, rione Centro 2 “La Rondolina“ is all blue, rione Oliveto is white and green..
The competition is an historical commemoration of the battle between two families of Perugia, the Baglioni and the Oddi. In 1495, the latter had to flee the castle, boats on their shoulders, pursued by the soldiers of the Baglioni.
On 29 July, the exciting competition takes place, but the event begins on Saturday, 21 July, with the opening of the inns and taverns of the area where you can try dishes typical of the region, with historical shows in costume. From Monday to Thursday, you can watch the practices of the various rioni and perhaps even see the participants with the boats loaded on their shoulders running along the winding streets and lanes of the area.
You will find the entire programme on the site www.paliodellebarche.it