What is Quintana ; one of the events not to be missed for those coming to Umbria is undoubtedly the Giostra della Quintana, which takes place in Foligno in June and September.
The origins This is the historical re-enactment of the Giostra of 10 February 1613 played on the occasion of the Carnival to resolve the doubt about “which is more content for a knight of honour: maintaining the grace of the prince or the continued favor of a beautiful and very kind lady ”.
To resolve this doubt, it was necessary to resort to gentle weapons and so 5 scions of as many noble families of the city challenged each other in Piazza Grande.
The re-enactment of Love and power therefore which from 1946, the year of the first modern Giostra , until today, are identified in the love of the people of Foligno towards the prestigious traditions of their city and in the power of attracting visitors thanks to the exciting competition of the Campo de li Giochi and to the magic of the great Festival which allows the city to reclaim and show all the charm of its baroque spaces. the carousel. The race at the Campo is exhilarating and sparks the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators.
It’s time for the challenge between the knights of the 10 districts into which Foligno is divided, who compete for the Palio.
The Giostra della Quintana , without fear of contradiction, is the most exciting and difficult competition held in Italy and for this reason it has been defined as the Olympic Games of the Ancient Regime.
The horse-rider duo must travel the treacherous 754 meter figure-eight track, delimited by flags. At the intersection of the two diagonals is the statue representing the God Mars with his right arm extended. On the hook, under the clenched fist, the rings to be inserted are hung.
There are three rounds with the rings progressively getting smaller.
Those of the first round are 8 centimeters, 6 for those of the second and even 5 for the third. The rider who finishes the course without penalty and in the shortest time possible wins. the great festival of Foligno. But the Quintana is not just a race.
The evening before the Joust, the procession winds through the streets of the city center with 800 characters in sumptuous baroque dresses, rigorously faithful to the dictates of fashion and the iconography of the time.
In the two weeks preceding the Giostra, the city comes alive with the opening of the 10 local taverns where you can taste the typical dishes of seventeenth-century gastronomy which enhance the quality of the typical local products. The atmosphere is engaging and the viewer is taken on an unforgettable journey back in time. the spectacular emotions.
The competitive spirit of the race, the spectacular nature of the costumes and sets and the enthusiasm of the quintanari give an event that remains in the hearts of those who experience it.
La Quintana has become the perfect testimonial of Umbria because it contains all the excellences of this territory: cultural, historical, food and wine, architectural and reminiscent of the Region.
