Donazione della Santa Spina 2012

Congratulations to Borgo del Monte on winning this year’s Palio! Maybe we didn’t win…but we sure had a good time!

Being a part of the community of our del Verziere rione is a precious honor. Being the Castellana of our rione will be a memory I cherish forever.

OK, and now it’s time to start planning for next year! Viva del Verziere!!

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Festa in Montone: The Die is Cast

And so, in the words of Julius Ceasar, crossing the Rubicon, “Iacta alea est”. The die has been cast. Each rione has given its all, its best effort. A year’s worth of plotting, planning, scheming, writing, painting sets, and rehearsing lines is over. The plays have played, and tonight, with much drumming and fanfare, the winner of the Palio will be announced.

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And the winner is…

Congratulations to del Borgo for winning the 2011 Palio!

We lost by one single point, but the jury gave us high points for our ‘nearly cineographic’ performances.

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Montone in Festa!

It’s that time again! Donazione della Spina in Montone!
A full week in August where the town of Montone remembers Braccio Fortebraccio, our illustrious mercenary ancestor who survived many a battle against the Pope. His equally illustrious son, Carlo, as a reward for his heroic efforts, was given a precious thorn from the crown of Christ. As he rode into town with his prize, bells miraculously rang without someone yanking their chain, flowers sprang into blossom, horses genuflected as he passed and …. there was unbridled partying for seven days.

We are on the eve of unbridled partying.

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And the winner is…..

Del Verziere! Del Verziere! Del Verziere! Del Verziere!  Although I'm sure the news has gone global by now, our rione, Del Verziere has won the 2009 Palio della Santa Spina. The winner was announced Saturday night,  the piazza erupted and the party went on all night long. Sunday we all dressed up yet again and…

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