Faenza, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th the challenges in Piazza del Popolo Alfieri and Musici, over 120 athletes protagonists

Gabriele Garavini – The competitions between the flag-waving and musical standard-bearers of the five districts are back, and will experience their most exciting moment on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June. The event, as per tradition, precedes the Palio del Niballo by a week. Over 120 athletes in costume of all ages will take to Piazza del Popolo for a truly unmissable show that comes after difficult months and which aims to be a strong signal in line with the desire to bring the events long awaited by the people of Faenza and by lovers of historical reenactment. An unmissable opportunity to experience the emotion of seeing the flags of Faenza’s athletes fluttering, with a long tradition in the art of the flag which has set a precedent throughout the country, in a picturesque Piazza del Popolo at night: the rolling of drums accompanied from the unmistakable sound of the clarions it will thus transport the public on a journey through time into the magical atmosphere of the Manfredi Lordship. The calendar includes the Alfieri Bandieranti and Musici Tournament on Saturday 15 June at 8.30pm in the Single, Small Team, Large Team and Musician specialities, while on Sunday the oldest race is scheduled, which has been held since 1964, that of the couple, groups entering the Square of the 21st Sunday, before the flag-waving competition, there will also be the always evocative ceremony of the solemn oath of the five local knights who will compete in the 67th edition of the Palio del Niballo, awaited in front of the Master of the Field: Marco Diafaldi for the Green, Luca Innocenzi for Borgo Durbecco, Matteo Rivola for the Red, Matteo Tabanelli for the Black and Gertian Cela for the Yellow. In case of bad weather the races will be moved to PalaCattani. For many boys and girls, months of training, sacrifices, and uncomfortable trips to the large car parks of the industrial area, far from the city, so as not to disturb the people of Faenza too much, all to better prepare themselves in the art of “handling the sign”. As usual, a special large stage will be set up on Saturday evening, placed vertically across the entire square, near the exit onto Corso Matteotti. The competition field will be created right in front of the stage. The verdicts of the competitions will be issued by the FISB judges who return to Faenza after two years. Only the winners of the individual categories will qualify for the A/3 tricolors scheduled for Sunday 7 July in Sulmona. The order of performance at the Tournament of flag bearers and musicians, scheduled for Saturday 15 June, has already been drawn. Out of the urn came out in the order: Borgo, Red, Yellow, Black and Green which will also be the order of display in the overall singles competition. The two evenings of Bandiere will be broadcast live on the official channels of the Palio (Youtube, Facebook and website www.paliodifaenza.it.) an easy and immediate way not to miss the races or to see them again in the following days and continue to experience the magic of these evenings in Piazza del Popolo.

The roll of honor

Single: 28 Borgo, 13 Red, 9 Black, 2 Yellow, 1 Green.

Couple: 27 Borgo, 17 Black, 7 Green, 5 Red, 4 Yellow.

Drummer Couple: 15 Borgo, 9 Black, 2 Yellow, 2 Red.

Small Team: 21 Borgo, 14 Black, 6 Yellow, 5 Red, 5 Green.

Big team: 32 Borgo, 14 Black, 3 Green, 2 Red.

Musicians: Borgo 20, Nero 17.

Luciano Bugli Trophy: 7 Black, 3 Red, 3 Yellow.

Combined Trophy: 20 Borgo, 14 Black.