From Friday 27 to Sunday 29 September 2024, the 46th edition of the Giochi de le Porte will take place, a popular re-enactment set in the 15th century, in honour of Saint Michael the Archangel, Co-Patron Saint of the town of Gualdo Tadino, at Piazza Martiri della Libertà.
It will be three days in which Gualdo Tadino will rediscover its mediaeval customs and take to the streets the ancient Palio dedicated to the Compatron, which will be contested by the four city gates.
The streets of Gualdo Tadino will be tinged with the colours of the Four Gates, namely:
San Benedetto - yellow tower on a blue field, San Donato - yellow tower on a white field, San Facondino - yellow tower on a green field and San Martino - yellow tower on a red field.
The factions will compete for the Palio and the privilege of burning the effigy of the witch Bastola, who, according to legend, was hired by the inhabitants of Nocera, enemies of Gualdo, to destroy the village with a fire.
It will begin on Friday 27 September, with the opening of the taverns and the exchange of gifts between the four gates. This will be followed by the performance of the Flag-wavers and Musicians of the City of Gualdo Tadino.
Saturday 28 will be the day of the Historical Procession of the Four Ports, with about 1,000 participants parading through the streets of the city, wearing clothes made to perfection by the tailors of the four Ports, following handcrafted floats, representing allegorical scenes or everyday life from the 1400s.
There will also be a shooting competition of the Crossbowmen of Gualdo Tadino, and the winner will have the honour of escorting the Palio.
The event will reach its climax on Sunday 29 September. 
The morning will be dedicated to the technical part of the competitions and the internal organisation of each faction. 
In the afternoon, at 14:30, there will be the entrance of the Historical Procession in honour of the protagonists of the Games and the representation of the guilds, and at 15:30 the blessing of the jugglers.
Following this, at 4 p.m., the competitions will begin, including donkey cart racing, sling shooting, archery and bareback riding on the four donkeys.
At the end of the competition, the winning gate will receive the victory banner, painted on canvas each year by a different artist of national prestige, and will have the honour of burning the Bastola in the centre of the square.
For the full programme HERE
For more information:
facebook: Giochi de le Porte