The century-old tradition of the Festa dei Ceri takes place every year in Gubbio on May 15th, on the eve of the Feast of Sant'Ubaldo, the town's patron saint who died in 1160.
It is of little importance whether the origins of the Feast are Pagan or have something to do with the devotion for the patron saint - during this Feast you can truly breathe the soul, passion and traditions of Gubbio and the whole of Umbria.
The objective of the race is to glorify Sant'Ubaldo and it consists in transporting the Ceri from the church of Santa Maria Nuova into the town centre to the basilica dedicated to the Saint.
The Ceri are three enormous wooden structures that weigh four quintals each (nearly 900 pounds) and are topped by the statues of Sant'Ubaldo (protector of masons), San Giorgio (protector of artisans and tradesmen) and Sant'Antonio Abate (protector of farmers and students). These are carried along the streets of the town centre to the Sant'Ubaldo basilica on Mount Ingino. The "ceraioli" (ceri-bearers) take part in this wild race followed by an enthusiastic crowd.
A suggestive ceremony precedes the race - at midday in piazza Grande, the Ceri are carried three times around the square. They are then paraded through the streets of the city, before being taken to via Savelli Della Porta until the start of the race.
Each year, people from all over the world come to enjoy a bit of Umbrian folklore.
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