The Normans return to Piazza Armerina with the Palio 2.0

PIAZZA ARMERINA - Since 1852 it has been the main historical re-enactment of the South and, challenging the restrictions for Covid-19, the Palio dei Normanni returns this year to Piazza Armerina, to tell the fight with the Saracens and bring a piece of Sicily back to Middle Ages. The characters and the facts that are told have been part of our identity for almost a thousand years, and still animate the collective imagination between history, literature and legend. This year will be a Palio 2.0 with a virtual offer but also live even if with contingent events for safety reasons.

This edition, explains the creator of this year's Palio, the Councilor for Culture and Tourism of Pazza Armerina, Ettore Messina, "will be realized not only live, with horses, rides, costumes, even in experimental and innovative versions with medium-length film, a theatrical event and a 'gaming', a video game based on the event that will be disseminated through the major social networks around the world ".

Dedicated to Ruggero d'Altavilla, who liberated the city from the Saracens in the 12th century, it is one of the most important historical representations of the country and one of the cultural events in Sicily best known abroad. The Palio is inspired by the war of liberation of Sicily from the Saracens by the Normans led by Ruggero I of Sicily, when the events of the Norman conquests were linked with the tradition of the city of Piazza Armerina, between events of destruction, popular legends, religious devotions and history, which still seem alive today and seem to acquire a renewed meaning of unity and a drive towards redemption and cultural rebirth. As if to say that, precisely around the rediscovery of a shared and luminous past, we can find those feelings that are the basis of common feeling and that reduce the fears of loneliness and the uncertainties of the future.

On the first day, August 12, the arms are handed over and the jousting knights are blessed. On the 13th the entrance to Piazza Armerina of King Ruggero is recalled, to whom the keys of the city are given. It will take place as a contingent theatrical celebratory moment based on Covid measures and with limited access and controlled by the purchase of tickets. But the performance will be made available to everyone through a live broadcast on the official social networks of the event and the Municipality.

The Quintana del Saraceno will take place as usual on August 14 at the Sant'Ippolito municipal stadium, it will be guaranteed at a competitive level and it will be possible to enjoy it in the presence of spectators (based on the anti-Covid quota provisions). Also in this case there is a ticket. The Quintana del Saraceno consists of a challenge between the 4 historic districts of Piazza Armerina that will compete for the conquest of the Drape of Maria Santissima delle Vittorie: Canali in red, Casalotto in green, Castellina in blue and Monte in yellow. "Making the Palio this year required a great collective effort, in order to maintain the high cultural and artistic level of the event, while respecting all the safety parameters for workers and spectators, guaranteeing the protection of social distancing. "explains Grossi.

And to meet these needs, a new dramaturgical form of the event is planned, curated by the director Gisella Calì, which enriches the magic of historical editions with images and suggestions. The staging, in fact, includes real performances that tell, through the theatrical direction, the salient moments of the Palio with actors, dancers and professional musicians.