Goliardy, competitive spirit and desire to share. All this and much more is the University Palio which returns for the nineteenth edition, from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th May. All departments of the University will participate in the event, organized by Cus Catania and the University of Catania, divided into 13 teams, for a total of approximately 200 athletes per team. Many new features for a Palio that will be experienced in the name of environmental sustainability, but also the confirmation of the format that was very successful in the previous edition.
An event awaited by students enrolled at the University of Catania, which has made the Palio one of the highlights in the city among the various sporting and non-sporting events. The “three days of university student competitions” has in fact become a heritage of the entire city. The city institutions, and not only them, feel increasingly involved in the event.
The three-day program
First day (Wednesday 8 May): this year too the Palio will open with the students’ parade, a parade which will affect the center of the city in the stretch between Villa Bellini and Piazza Università, then the opening of the races with the first three competitions.
Second day (Thursday 9 May): we will move to the “Le Capannine” tourist village, on the Kennedy coast of Plaia di Catania.
The closing, Friday 10th, in the facilities of the University Sports Center of Catania, for the conclusion of the competitions and the proclamation of the department that will win the 2024 edition.
The declarations of the rector and of Cus Catania
“The center of Catania – says the rector of the University of Catania Francesco Priolo – will once again be filled, like last year, with thousands of students with their colorful t-shirts, parading with the right amount of fun and challenging each other to keep up the honor of their departments. The University Palio is an event that we await with real satisfaction, the moment in which thousands of young people loudly remind everyone that Catania is a great university city, a workshop of culture and also a hotbed of talents that are appreciated in Worldwide. Beyond the results of the fun sports competitions, it is the greatest moment of socialization in our university community which this year we are happy to share with other institutions and with all citizens.”
“The University Palio, now in its nineteenth edition, is one of the most eagerly awaited events in Catania among young people and students – adds the president of the Etna University Sports Center Luigi Mazzone -. With the first day to be spent in Piazza Università, we will take – as in the previous edition – the Cus outside the confines of the Citadel, handing the city over to the students. There will be three days of great celebration which, from the center of Catania, will move to the sandy coast of Plaia until returning to Cus for the last day. A “journey”, made of contagious joy and also competitive spirit, which will fill my heart with joy, as will the realization that the Palio will have a “green” look dedicated to environmental sustainability”.
Palio Green
The Palio 2024 contributes to the promotion and implementation of the 17 objectives for Sustainable Development. In fact, the “Sustainability Policies” service (Third Mission Area) of the University of Catania was involved in supporting the organization, with the aim of reducing the impact of the event through various actions: use of sustainable materials , separate waste collection, accessibility for all, compensatory measures. Thanks to the collaboration of the Department of Rural and Territorial Development of the Sicilian Region, the University will give each participating department a carob tree, a native plant typical of the Mediterranean environment, as a compensatory measure for the CO2 emissions attributable to the event. Each department will have to provide a short video that shows how sustainability is applied in everyday university life. The video must be in line with the fun spirit of the event.
Eunice
The University of Catania is part of the “European Universities”, transnational alliances of higher education institutions from across the EU that come together for the benefit of students, teachers, public bodies and businesses. The collaboration between CUS and the University has foreseen this year, within the organization of the University Palio, the creation of the First EUNICE Palio. Students from Italy, France, Poland, Spain and Greece will participate and compete in speed and sack racing competitions.
Races and transport
Many new features and significant returns to the competitions: dodgeball for example will be a new entry on Friday, and by popular demand the volleyball tournament will be organised. Dragon boating and rowing are back. Last year, Engineering emerged ahead of its historic rival Medicina.
In its “green” nature, the Palio will allow the competition theaters and above all the Cus Catania to be reached in a sustainable way for the final day, thanks to the active collaboration with FCE and AMTS. Here are the different modes:
- By METRO FCE to the “Milo” stop and continuing with the Metro Shuttle service which connects the metro to the University Center with a frequency of 1 bus every 10 minutes in the busiest periods. The Metro Shuttle service can be used by anyone in possession of a valid travel ticket for the FCE metro.
- By AMTS BUS using different lines:
- BRT1, 442, 556, 901, 628R > “Doria” stop on Viale Andrea Doria
- BRT1 and 442 > “Cittadella Ovest” stop on Via Santa Sofia
- BRT1 > “Cittadella Est” stop on Via Passo Gravina
- 901 > 2 stops inside the Cittadella or “Santa Sofia Cittadella” stop
For those who cannot give up the use of the car, it is recommended to share the journey with other participants and to leave the car in the free car park in Via Zenone, from which it is possible to reach the Cus with the Metro Shuttle service.
Reaching the “Le Capannine” tourist village – for the second day of the race – will be made easier thanks to the strengthening of line D prepared by AMTS.
