OTTAVA DI SANT'EGIDIO 2010
Manifestazioni storico-rievocative - Orte, 31 agosto - 12 settembre


THE FESTIVAL TODAY

Today, as in the middle age, Orte is divided into seven districts or “contrade” and the Ortani are still devoted to Saint Egidio. The seven contrade are named: San Gregorio, Porcini, Sant’Angelo, San Giovenale, Olivola, San Biagio and San Sebastiano, and every year the contrade celebrate the Saint Patron from August 31 to the second Sunday of September. Every day a different contrada celebrates with performances, parades, feasts, games, and ancient music. The last day is the day of the “Palio of the Archers”, a competition in which seven archers, one representing each contrada and equipped with a medieval bow, compete by shooting an arrow through progressively smaller silver rings. Men and women of every contrada wearing fourteenth-century dress go and see the Palio, and on their way to the Palio, a long parade is formed that meanders thought streets of the village. On the evening of August 31st, the “gonfaloni”, who are delegates from each contrada, receive the Blessing of the Gonfaloni in the Cathedral. The “Podestà”, who is a high-ranking city official, then offers a pledge to the saint and receives a silver ring. During the eight days of celebration every contrada opens its own tavern to the public. These taverns are architecturally of particular historical value, and each one is managed by volunteering resident members of the contrada who enrich the taverns with traditional family recipes and customs, as well as selected local products. The various activities of the Ottava of Sant’Egidio are promoted and coordinated by the Ente Ottava Medievale, and managed by a Council of Priors composed of three delegates from each of the following groups: the Historic Seven Contrade, the Flag-wavers group, the Historic Archers group and the Accademy of the Signori Disuniti of the village of Orte.

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