SHARRYLAND
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To each contrada its somarello
Every year during the third week of July, Mercatello sul Metauro goes wild. The Palio del Somaro, in fact, is much more than a medieval reenactment. Here, yes, the donkey race is the highlight, but in fact a great many other events accompany it, giving all the inhabitants a chance to have fun and take part in the festivities. Here then are fishing competitions, cooking competitions, sports tournaments, even a talent show, which here, of course, is called the donkey show.
The real star of the festivalDonkeys are concretely called upon in two racing competitions. The challengers are the four cantons of Mercatello sul Metauro, represented by four jockeys bareback riding four burros. The two races are surely the most exciting moment. Four burros take to the track, drawn among seven. Again fate decides which animal will fall to each of the cantons.
Since this is a race, it is nice to be able to cheer for someone. Of course, each Mercatellan cheers for his or her own canton; we who are not from here can choose the one we like best. Don't be smart though, choose before the race and above all ... don't throw yourself on the winning donkey, then there is no taste!
Goliardia and funYou will distinguish the jockeys and cant ons by the colors they wear: Green for La Baroccia, the country canton. Sky blue for La Colombara. Golden yellow, like the keys of St. Peter and the sword of St. Paul, heraldic symbols of the municipality, to identify the canton of the historic center, La Pieve. Red, like St. Martin's cloak for the canton named after the saint. I like the image of a dove flying in a clear sky, so I guess I'll choose this canton -- how about you?
The history of magna someri
This type of event usually invokes an ancient tradition. Not here. The Palio del Somaro owes its origin to the neighboring towns, which, in the wake of the ancient oppositions of the communal era, for a long time teased the Mercatellese by calling them magna someri i.e., donkey eaters. The latter, far from being offended by the thing, decided to turn it into their strong point, using it as the cue for a central event in the life of the village.
Who knows, maybe the neighboring villages had it all wrong, or maybe it is yet another mockery at their expense by the Mercatellians. The fact is that one of the side events of the Palio is the Tagliatella Festival, and that donkey stew sounds like a real treat, don't mind the athletes! Definitely an atypical Palio, don't you think? If I managed to intrigue you, see you in Mercatello!
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