Palio dei Borgia Festival 2027, Nepi, Italy

À quoi s’attendre en 2027

Palio dei Borgia Festival 2027 will bring the historic town of Nepi to life with Renaissance-inspired celebrations, traditional competitions, historical costumes, theatre, music, religious ceremonies and activities connected with the Borgia heritage. The event is organized around the town’s four Contrade: Santa Maria, San Biagio, Santa Croce and La Rocca.

Visitors can expect a mixture of historical reenactment and community traditions, including the Historical Procession, archery competitions, the Giostra dei Cavalieri, performances, concerts, traditional taverns and cultural presentations. The programme may be updated for the 2027 edition as individual events and participating groups are confirmed.

The festival has been held annually since the 1990s and is intended to preserve and present Nepi’s medieval and Renaissance history through the activities of the Ente Palio dei Borgia and the town’s Contrade.

Dates des événements

May or June 2027 (Dates TBD)

The official 2027 calendar has not yet been published. The latest editions have followed a multi-day programme extending across several weeks, with individual cultural, theatrical, religious and competitive events taking place at different locations around Nepi.

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Lieux et lieux de festival

The festival uses several historic and public locations throughout Nepi rather than one single venue.

• Forte dei Borgia: A principal location for theatre, cultural performances and other festival events.
• Piazza del Comune: Used for public ceremonies, historical performances, music, archery activities and entertainment.
• Chiesa Cattedrale – Duomo: Location for religious ceremonies, concerts and cultural presentations.
• Historic centre: The streets of Nepi provide the setting for historical processions and itinerant performances.
• Parco Comunale Martiri delle Foibe: Used for equestrian competitions and related activities.
• Palazzo Comunale: Hosts conferences, presentations and cultural events.
• Polo Culturale L’Acquedotto: Used for historical talks, culinary events and cultural gatherings.

The official festival address is Piazza del Duomo 2, 01036 Nepi, Viterbo, Italy.

Full cultural programme

The 2027 programme is expected to combine the festival’s established historical traditions with theatre, music, educational activities and cultural presentations.

Typical programme elements include:

• Historical Procession through the town
• Presentation and blessing of the Palio drappo
• Offering of the ceremonial candles
• Archery qualification and tournament
• Giostra dei Cavalieri
• Historical costume performances
• Renaissance-inspired theatre
• Traditional music and percussion performances
• Conferences and historical presentations
• Children’s activities
• Traditional Contrada celebrations
• Open-air taverns
• Closing ceremony and presentation of the Palio

The latest programme also introduced cultural projects such as the Harmonica Festival of historic drums and the cultural itinerary dedicated to Carlo V and Lucrezia Borgia.

Featured traditions & performances

The four Contrade are at the centre of the festival: Santa Maria, San Biagio, Santa Croce and La Rocca. Each Contrada maintains its own identity, colours, symbols and historical traditions.

The Historical Procession is one of the most recognizable spectacles, bringing costumed participants through the historic centre. La Rocca, for example, maintains a collection of historically inspired costumes based on Renaissance artwork and has a particularly strong connection with the Borgia heritage of Nepi.

Other performances can include historical fencing, theatrical productions, traditional musicians, flag and drum groups, fire performances and itinerant entertainment.

Historical & heritage highlights

The festival focuses strongly on the medieval and Renaissance history of Nepi and its relationship with the Borgia family. The Rocca, commonly known as the Rocca dei Borgia, is one of the town’s most important historical landmarks and is closely connected with the memory of Lucrezia Borgia.

The Ente Palio dei Borgia specifically states that one of its purposes is to study, promote, preserve and transmit Nepi’s medieval and Renaissance history and traditions through the annual historical reenactment.

Visitors can also explore the Cathedral, historic centre, Rocca area, traditional Contrada districts and other heritage locations that form the cultural setting of the festival.

Events & activities schedule

The detailed 2027 timetable has not yet been announced, but the established programme generally follows a sequence of cultural, ceremonial and competitive activities.

• Opening period: Cultural presentations, religious ceremonies and the blessing of the Palio.
• Cultural programme: Conferences, historical talks, theatre and music.
• Contrada activities: Traditional gatherings, food events and community celebrations.
• Competition programme: Archery qualifications, the archery tournament and equestrian competitions.
• Entertainment: Historical performances, theatre, musicians, drums and street entertainment.
• Closing programme: Historical procession, final ceremonies and presentation of the Palio to the winning Contrada.

The official programme can change from one edition to another, so the 2027 schedule should be checked once published.

Ticket types & entry options

General access to the public festival atmosphere, historic streets, processions and many outdoor activities has generally been free.

Some individual performances and cultural experiences can require separate admission. The latest published theatre programme listed previous reference prices of approximately:

• Adult theatre admission: $11.70
• Reduced theatre admission: $5.85

These figures are converted from the previously published €10 and €5 rates and should be treated as previous-edition references, not confirmed 2027 prices.

The 2027 ticketing structure has not yet been announced.

Guided tours & cultural experiences

Guided cultural experiences can complement the main festival programme. Previous festival-related activities have included guided visits to the Rocca dei Borgia and the Catacomb of Santa Savinilla.

Previous published reference prices converted to USD were:

• Rocca guided visit: approximately $7.02
• Catacomb guided visit: approximately $5.85
• Rocca and Catacomb combination: approximately $11.70
• Children up to 12: Free in the referenced programme

These are previous-edition reference prices and are not confirmed for 2027. Advance reservation has previously been recommended for guided visits.

Special ceremonies & celebrations

Religious and ceremonial traditions form an important part of the Palio.

The programme traditionally includes a solemn Mass, the Offering of the Ceri and the blessing of the Palio drappo. These ceremonies connect the historical celebration with the religious and community traditions of Nepi.

The Historical Procession and the ceremony involving Lucrezia Borgia are also major public spectacles, while the closing ceremony formally recognizes the Contrada that wins the Palio. Previous programmes have also featured traditional taverns and communal dinners.

Règles du festival

Visitors should follow the instructions of the organizers, Contrade, performers and venue staff throughout the festival.

• Remain within designated spectator areas during competitions.
• Follow safety instructions around horses, riders, archers and performers.
• Do not interfere with historical processions or performers.
• Respect costumes, props, flags, instruments and ceremonial objects.
• Follow venue-specific admission and photography requirements.
• Children should remain under appropriate adult supervision during crowded events.

Competition-specific rules are established separately for activities such as the archery tournament and equestrian competitions. The organizers publish dedicated regulations when applicable.

Comment y arriver

Nepi is a historic town in the Province of Viterbo in Lazio, making it suitable for a day trip or short cultural stay.

By car, visitors can approach Nepi from the surrounding Lazio road network and follow local signs toward the historic centre and festival venues. Because several activities take place inside or close to the historic centre, visitors should expect pedestrian areas and temporary traffic arrangements during major celebrations.

The main festival address is Piazza del Duomo 2, Nepi, where the Ente Palio dei Borgia is based.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Public transport connections are available through the wider Viterbo and Rome-area network, with local bus connections providing access to Nepi and nearby towns.

Visitors travelling by car should consider parking outside the most congested historic-centre streets and continuing on foot where necessary. Major procession and evening events may involve temporary road restrictions, so arriving early is recommended.

Parking arrangements for the 2027 edition should be checked with the local authorities or organizers once the final programme is released.

Zones d’hébergement

Visitors can stay in Nepi or use larger nearby towns as accommodation bases.

• Nepi: Best for staying close to the historic centre and festival atmosphere.
• Viterbo: A larger nearby base with a broader choice of hotels and restaurants.
• Rome: Suitable for visitors combining the festival with a wider Lazio trip.
• Civita Castellana area: Another practical option for visitors exploring the surrounding Tuscia region.

Staying in or near Nepi allows visitors to experience the evening processions, Contrada activities and outdoor celebrations without relying on late-night transportation.

Food & traditional specialties

Food is an important part of the community atmosphere surrounding the Palio. The Contrade traditionally operate open-air taverns during the festival period, providing opportunities to eat and socialize within the historic neighbourhoods.

The programme has also included culinary events focused on Renaissance cuisine, including presentations exploring the food traditions associated with Lucrezia Borgia and the historical countryside around Nepi.

Visitors can expect traditional Lazio-style dishes, local pasta, meat preparations, seasonal ingredients, breads, desserts and regional wines, although the exact menus vary between Contrade and individual festival events.

Accessibilité

Accessibility varies according to the individual venue and event location because many activities take place in historic streets, public squares and heritage buildings.

Outdoor events in Piazza del Comune and other public areas may be easier to access, while historic structures such as the Rocca can present uneven surfaces, steps or restricted areas. Visitors with mobility requirements should contact the organizers or individual venues before attending specific activities.

The Ente Palio dei Borgia can be contacted at palionepi@gmail.com for information about access arrangements and venue-specific requirements.

Best cultural experiences

Historical Procession: Experience Nepi’s Renaissance-inspired costumes, flags, musicians and ceremonial traditions as the procession moves through the historic centre.

Rocca dei Borgia: Explore one of the strongest historical symbols associated with the festival and the Borgia heritage of Nepi.

Archery Tournament: Watch the Contrade compete in a traditional sporting contest where precision contributes to the Palio competition.

Giostra dei Cavalieri: Experience the equestrian side of the celebration when the riders and horses take part in the Palio competition.

Contrada Taverns: Combine the historical atmosphere with local food and community celebrations in the four Contrade.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The latest completed edition marked the 30th edition of the Palio dei Borgia and expanded the cultural programme with theatre, historical presentations, music and traditional competitions. The programme included the Offering of the Ceri, blessing of the Palio, Historical Procession, archery tournament, Giostra dei Cavalieri, theatre productions and performances by historic drum groups.

The edition also featured the Harmonica Festival of Historic Drums, with groups from Nepi and other parts of Italy, alongside the cultural project focused on Carlo V and Lucrezia Borgia.

The four Contrade remained central to the programme, continuing the long-running competition between Santa Maria, San Biagio, Santa Croce and La Rocca. The official roll of honour records La Rocca as the most recent winner of the main Palio before the latest edition.

Billets officiels

Official 2027 ticket information has not yet been released.

The main outdoor festival activities and public celebrations have generally been accessible without a general admission ticket, while selected theatre productions, guided visits, dinners and special experiences may require separate payment. Previous published theatre and guided-tour prices are included above only as reference figures.

For official announcements, programme updates and ticket information, visitors should use the https://www.paliodeiborgianepi.it/.

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