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The
challenging parties are five historical districts of Faenza:
White, Yellow, , Black, Red, Green.
Consisting of 20 rounds, the competition takes place as follows:
starting from the same position, the two contenders, at the
Magistrate’s command, race in apposite directions around a
horseshoe shaped circuit until they meet at the Niballo, the
Saracen warrior representing ancient Faenza’s Moorish enemy.
The two hundred
metres are covered at full gallop. The aim of the competition is
to hit one of the targets on the extremities of the Niballo’s
arms with tip of the lance: the first to strike his target trips
the device that raises the arm on his side of the track. With
each round the winner gains a shield with his rival’s colours:
the Bigorda or Palio, is won by the Rione that wins the most
shields. At the end of the 5 “rounds” the Rione with the greatest
number of shields is proclaimed the winner of the quintain. |
