Gubbio Festivals

The annual Corsa dei Ceri, 900 years old and still going strong, takes place every May 15, the day of patron Saint Ubaldo’s death. Three ceri (candles) are carved like hourglasses and topped with little statues of saints. Each one corresponds to a distinct section of the populace: the masons (Sant’Ubaldo), the farmers (Sant’Antonio Abate), and the artisans (San Giorgio). After 12hr. of furious preparation and frenetic flag-twirling, squads of ceraioli (candle runners) clad in Renaissance-style tights lift the heavy objects onto their shoulders and run a wild relay race up Monte Ingino. This raucous festival turns Gubbio’s quiet streets into a chaotic stomping ground bristling with intense ritual fervor. Visitors will be entranced; locals will almost certainly be drunk. During the Palio della Balestra, held in P. Grande on the last Sunday in May, archers from Gubbio and nearby Sansepolcro have gathered for a fierce crossbow contest since 1139. The contest provides an excellent excuse for Gubbio to throw a huge party every year and maintain an industry in medieval-weaponry toys.