October Trevano – Palio dei Terzieri
Every year, on the first Sunday in October, the Umbrian village of Trevi comes back to life with the striking Palio dei Terzieri, the beating heart of the “Ottobre Trevano” event.
Established in 1980, the Palio commemorates a dramatic and decisive moment in the past: the destruction of the town that occurred in 1214 at the hands of the Spoleto people, by order of Duke Theopold. According to the Ecclesiastical Annals, it was precisely the young Trevans, with tenacity and courage, who led the rebirth of their city. This spirit of revenge came to life in an epic, symbolic and adrenaline-fueled race that is still able to excite and unite the entire community.
The race
Three teams, corresponding to the city’s three historic Terzieri – Castello, Matiggia and Piano – compete in a test of strength, coordination and endurance: a relay race with a 430-pound wagon, pushed and pulled by twenty young “Color Bearers” along an 800-meter track, mostly uphill.
The start, marked by the third tolling of the tower bell, is from Porta Nuova. From there, the runners take turns non-stop until they reach the Piazza del Comune, where the Mora, a wooden bust depicting a warrior woman, emblem of the resurrected city, awaits them. The “bà lio,” or the last runner, must grasp the key that the Mora holds in her right hand to symbolically open the tower door and ring the bell again: a gesture that ratifies the reconquest of the city.
Atmosphere and tradition
But October Trevano is not just about competition. The entire historic center comes alive with re-enactments, costume parades, shows and, above all, the highly anticipated Terzieri Taverns. In particular, the Taverna del Terziere Castello, located just a few steps from the Cathedral of St. Emiliano, welcomes hundreds of visitors every year in an evocative setting, amid medieval walls and the scents of traditional Trevan cuisine.
Run with passion by young volunteers, the tavern is a true journey back in time, where attention to scenic details goes hand in hand with the quality of the dishes, conviviality and the desire to let people discover the authentic soul of Trevi.
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