Spade Race
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The race is strictly linked to the ancient division of the town and its land in "Terzieri" (sort of districts): Terziere di Mezzo (whose colors are the green and the black, and the insigna a flame), Terziere di Muralto (whose colours are light blue and white, with an ear of wheat as insignia) and terziere Sossanta (with red and white and a dove as insigna).
On the evening before the Patron saint's feast, from each district different groups set off in procession, all of them dressed up in the traditional costumes. In the torchlight and carryng flags, clarins and drums, they walk across the medieval town centre along the streets all decked with draps and flags, to gather in the end at the Basilic of St.Venanzio where it will take place the cerimony of the "offer of the candles".
In the church yard it will be read the public announcement for the performing of the race of the spade and of the palio. A big bonfire is lit for good wish, among the blares of trumpets and the rolls of drums.
On the following sunday afternoon, the sumptuous train of people of the palio moves along the main streets of the town centre. The group is formed by 300 people figuring knigts, ladies, squires, musician and flag-wawers.
To the race take part 30 young men, 10 for each district,who have been training for three months. They all wear costumes. The race is about 1 mile long, most of which on a steep slope.
The runner who first arrives to slip the spade off the stump in which is stuck, wins the race and keeps the spade as his prize, while the district with the best runners is proclaimed the winner of the Palio which they will keep till the following year.
The feast ends in the beautiful scenary of the Borgia fortress where the winning district is awarded with the Palio by the "Magnifico Messere", at the presence of the Duke and his court, all in an atmosphere of colors, music and flag-waves.
In this month Camerino and the villages nearby live eight days of great liveliness because the historical evocation of the race is preceded and followed by many other related events organized by each Terziero, like, for instace the opening of the traditional taverns ( with meals based on ancient receips), craft fairs and folk entertainments.
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