Fiera Medievale

Why it's special

It's run by the Palio borghi themselves, a week before the donkey race. Each borgo sets up a tavern and cooks: bollito with bagnet, porchetta, tripe, zabaglione. Torches and lanterns replace the street lamps, and fire-eaters, jugglers and swordsmen work the crowd.

Programme · 2026

Part of the 57th Palio degli Asini programme.

• Saturday night is the atmospheric one, with the taverns lit by torches until midnight.
• Sunday daytime has games and workshops for children.
• Info: Comune di Cocconato, +39 0141 907007, or the tourist office, +39 0141 600076.

The Fiera Medievale started in 1990 as a warm-up for the Palio degli Asini, and it still opens Cocconato's Palio fortnight. On the Saturday evening the old Via Roma goes dark except for torches, lanterns and candles. The borghi that race in the Palio set up stalls, scenes of daily life and long-gone trades, and games, following the rules of a fair of the period.

These days the food is half the point. Every borgo runs its own tavern and serves dishes in the medieval spirit in earthenware: bollito with bagnet, porchetta, tripe, zabaglione. Nobles in costume and beggars share the street with fire-eaters, jugglers, swordsmen, musicians and fortune-tellers. On the Sunday morning the drappi for the coming Palio are blessed in the parish church, and the market reopens for the day.

See what else is on in Cocconato.