Six knights in full armor charge a rotating target on horseback. Miss, and the target swings back and hits you. The whole town dresses in 15th-century costume.
Plan this trip →Two events: Giostra di luglio (first Saturday of July, night tournament) and Giostra di agosto (first Sunday of August, day tournament). The July night joust under floodlights is more atmospheric.
Six sestieri (districts) compete. Each sends a knight who must lance a series of rings held by a rotating wooden figure (the quintana) at full gallop. Smallest ring wins. Before the joust: a 1,500-person historical parade in 15th-century costume through the streets, ending at the Campo dei Giochi (the arena).
€15–80 depending on seating. Available at quintana.it from May. The town of 50,000 fills with 30,000+ visitors on joust day.
Ascoli Piceno is in the Marche, 2h from Rome by car. Train: Roma Termini → San Benedetto del Tronto → Ascoli (3h total, €15–25). Worth combining with a Marche itinerary.
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