Culture
For several years, as many other towns, also Vigevano has been tracing back its own traditions and historical roots. This led not only to the constitution of a historical Vigevano Society (tel. 0381-83034) very active with lots of cultural events, such as conferences, meetings and worthy pubblications about episodes, costumes and personages of Vigevano History, but also to re-discover and publicize some traditional manifestations of the town folklore such as, for example, the Palio delle Contrade, the Historical Parade, the Devil's Stake Pyre, the feast of the "dr'ania" and so on. The "Palio delle Contrade" is one of the most important events taking place in Vigevano: for fifteen years now it has been disputed every year on the second Sunday of October on occasion of the Festivity of Blessed Matteo Carreri, Vigevano's patron. The "Palio of the Blessed Matteo" is disputed among the twelve Contrade of the town (nine are historical and three have been added later, so to make them coincide with the town parishes) and it takes place in the suggestive setting of the Sforzas' Castle Yard (entrance from the stairs of the Ducal Square). The Palio is awarded to the Contrada which makes the best score, after a series of games reminding of the Courtly Festivals which used to take place at the Sforzas' time right in Vigevano Castle. In the course of years, the "palio of the Contrade" has more and more fit in the traditions and culture of the town; a committee of the Palio Beato Matteo (tel. 0381-690370) was formed and during the year they propose several meetings with the town, such as the "Historical Parade" on the third Sunday of May in the Castle yard. The costumes for the parade have been very well realized after a long work of research: true to the Sforzas' time they propose over two hundred personages reminding us of the different types, from the courtiers to the representatives of many crafts of the time. Beside the twelve Contrade, in fact, in the historical parade you can see all Sforza Court, including Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d'Este. In spring and summer when lots of sightseers come to Vigevano, these personages in their historical costumes recreating sketches of the Sforzas' life in the Castle yard constitute a great attraction and take tourists in their visit to the castle. These are the twelve Contrade of the "Palio of the Blessed Matteo":-
-Costa (Parish St. Pietro Martire)
-Bronzone (Parish St. Giuseppe al Cascame)
-Cicerino (Parish Addolorata)
-St. Martino (Parish Immacolata)
-Griona (Parish Fatima)
-Mercanti (Parish St. Francesco)
-Predalata (Parish Cuore Immacolato di Maria)
-Strata (Parish Sacro Cuore)
-Valle (ParishSt.GiovanniandSt.Pio)
-Castello (Parish St. Ambrogio)
-Contado (Parish Cristo Re)
-SS. Crispino e Crispiniano (Parish Gesł Divin Lavoratore)
On August 20th, the traditional "Devil's Stake Pyre" takes place on the yard of St. Bernardo's Church: it is a very ancient manifestation of Vigevano folklore that every year calls numberless people. In the second week of July there is the feast of the Contrada del Carmine, known as "dr'anja" (of the duck): it is a particular feast which ends up with a big pubblic banquet on the "terraggi" during which the sidass, curious linen disks reproducing mottos and popular satyric paintings are exhibited. Another important Vigevano event is "The Golden Shoe", a sports manifestation which takes place every year in April; it consists in a road race which starting from the Ducal Square develops along the historical streets of Vigevano, passes through the Roofed Road and ends up in the Castle Yard. It is always live broadcast by the national TV and has a very great audience. Worth mentioning is also the interesting Antique Street Market; it is held on the third Saturday of every month in the streets surrounding the Ducal Square and draws to Vigevano lots of people. Local Feasts: Sforzesca: First Sunday of July B. V. del Carmine: July 15th B. V. della Neve (Predalate): August 5th St. Bernardo: August 20th (traditional Devil's Stake Pyre) Rione Cascame: (Feast of Maria Bambina) second Sunday of September Rione Cavallino: Third Sunday of September (Beata Vergine Addolorata) Rione Cuore Immacolato di Maria: Fourth Sunday of September (Madonna Pellegrino) Beato Matteo: second Sunday of October (Feast of the town's patron)

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