Palio degli Asini
Cocconato's donkey palio, raced since 1970 on a Sunday in late September: the borghi parade in medieval costume behind an ox-drawn carroccio, then run their donkeys uphill from Piazza Giordano to Piazza Cavour and back down through the old streets.
Why it's special
The donkeys aren't ridden. Six grooms per borgo urge them on round a natural course up to Piazza Cavour and down the narrow porphyry Via Alfieri. The winner takes the Palio, a gold satin banner with the Radicati arms. The last borgo home gets a salted anchovy, and the day ends with polenta, sausage and gorgonzola under the Tettoia.
Programme · 2026
57th Palio degli Asini. Borghi of the 57th edition: Airali, Brina, Colline Magre, Moransengo, San Carlo, Torre and Tuffo.
- Chairs and grandstand seats can be bought (in 2025: €10 a chair, €20 a stand seat at the tourist office; in 2026 also online via VisitLMR).
- The race starts mid-afternoon after the parade.
- Book the Saturday banquet at the Tabaccheria Noto (+39 0141 907655).
- Info: +39 0141 600076 or +39 0141 907007.
The Palio degli Asini started in 1970 as a contest between the borghi of Cocconato. It takes its theme from the town's medieval past, when the Radicati counts played a real part in the quarrels between the marquises of Monferrato, Asti and the House of Savoy. The whole village is involved, and in the parade each borgo re-enacts an episode from the life of the time, with a little imagination but always based on real events.
The day begins at 10 with the blessing of the borghi's banners in the parish church of Santa Maria della Consolazione. After lunch comes the long historic parade, opened by the flag-throwers of Asti. Behind them come the carroccio, drawn by a pair of oxen and carrying a copy of the reliquary of the patron saints, the Palio captain on horseback, the Radicati counts, and then the borghi in the order they finished the year before. The race follows, in two qualifying heats, a repechage and a final. The donkeys run from Piazza Giordano up to Piazza Cavour and back down the narrow Via Alfieri, urged on by their grooms.
Most of the borghi are parts of Cocconato itself, among them Tuffo, Brina, Torre, San Carlo, Airali and Colline Magre. Moransengo, the village next door, is the only outside comune allowed to run. The night before there's a medieval banquet in the Cortile del Collegio, and the weekend before the borghi hold the Fiera Medievale along Via Roma.
See what else is on in Cocconato.
More events in Monferrato in September 2026 →
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Past editions
| Year | Dates | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26–27 September 2026 (race Sunday 27 September) | 57th Palio degli Asini. Borghi of the 57th edition: Airali, Brina, Colline Magre, Moransengo, San Carlo, Torre and Tuffo. Sat 26 Sep, 19:00 – 'Aspettando il palio… Banchetto Medievale': the borghi's nobles and the Palio Captain process from Piazza Cavour to the Cortile del Collegio for the propitiatory banquet, with jugglers and musicians Sun 27 Sep, 10:00 – Blessing of the borghi's banners at the parish church Sun 27 Sep, 14:00 – Historic parade of the borghi through the village Sun 27 Sep, 16:00 – Corsa degli Asini in Piazza G. Melchiorre and Piazza Cavour |
| 2025 | 27–28 September 2025 (race Sunday 28 September) | 56th Palio degli Asini. Sat 27 Sep – Serata Medievale, 'Aspettando il 56° Palio' Sun 28 Sep – Palio degli Asini; seats sold at the tourist office (€10 chairs, €20 grandstand) |
| 2024 | 21–22 September 2024 (race Sunday 22 September) | 55th Palio degli Asini, with the 'Serata prima del Palio' on Saturday 21 September. |
| 2023 | 23–24 September 2023 (race Sunday 24 September) | 54th Palio, with 'Aspettando il 54° palio' on Saturday 23 September. |