Folklore

Prior to the donkey race, on Saturday evening, each borough competes in costumes during the historical re-enactment.
A theatrical performance by more than 400 actors who will take turns in groups, presenting historical and legendary episodes that marked the life of the medieval population.

The first Sunday in October, all around the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Alba’s old town, the Donkey Palio is run, the crazy race that sees the city’s nine boroughs compete for the drape. A goliardic day, staged with total respect for the animals, in an arena full of colours, costumes, bravery and loud cheering.

During the Boroughs Bacchanal, people in period costumes will welcome you to the old town amidst ancient charms, dancing, music, good food and drink. Two days of re-enactments lived as protagonists, accompanied and followed by the City’ s boroughs that are the key protagonists of Alba’s history. Through the daily actions of the boroughs’ inhabitants, it will be possible to see and touch what life was like in the Middle Ages in Alba, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient times.

The sky above Piazza Risorgimento will be filled with a thousand colours, amid the overwhelming rhythm of the drums and the charming and impressive performances of the flag-wavers groups. The Flag Festival puts all the participants’ skills to the test, from performances by individual flag-wavers, who will engage in simultaneous and complex tricks with several flags, up to synchronous and mirrored choreographies in pairs.