The Palio di Legnano is a series of ceremonies and events organized
to make memory of the battle that took place in the city on 29th May 1176.
In that day the historical Italian Comuni (Municipalities), gathered in the ancient Lombard League, defeated the Army of Emperor
Frederick I, dubbed Barbarossa.

This victory was considered so important that the Italian anthem refers to it with the words “Dall’Alpe a Sicilia…dovunque è Legnano”
(from the Alps to Sicily...Legnano is everywhere).

Each year, at the end of April, the celebrations start ofcially with a
proclamation by the Supreme Magistrate - the Mayor of Legnano -
who invites the eight Contrade (the quarters in which the city is
divided) to join the horse race.
Then, in May, follow various ritual ceremonies and events such as
medieval weekend called Castello in festa (Castle in feast) and the
happening Manieri aperti (Open Manors).

The topical moment is the great historical parade on the last Sunday
of May. The eight Contrade are the protagonists of this big parade
along the city streets, with their representatives wearing precious
dresses and accessories, reconstructed according to the results of an
accurate historical research.

At the end of the parade the jockeys challenge each other in the horse race, riding without a saddle. The winning Contrada acquires the right to keep in its own church the reconstruction of Archibishop Ariberto’s Cross for a year.