The Palio of Ferrara is the oldest in the world. Founded in 1279, the festival became a symbol of Ferrara during the Renaissance.
The four districts (the quarters of the center) and four villages (neighborhoods outside the walls) compete to win the prize, which is a colored cloth.
The festival takes place in May and for over a month the city is involved in this festival. Flag holders, costume parades, tributes to the Duke, throughout the Spring, the city is involved in this historic commemoration of its past.
The festival concludes with the most important event, that of the race horses.
In the square Ariostea, samples of various districts are compared according to tradition, the races of the putti, the putte, the donkeys and horses.