Grazzano Visconti's Historic Parade

Every year, on the last Sunday of May, starting at 10:00, Grazzano Visconti treats all its visitors to a charming historic parade, medieval lunches and themed festivities.

The historic parade recalls the festive meeting between Giovanni Anguissola and his bride Beatrice Visconti, with Valentina Visconti, lady of Asti, which took place back in 1389. The natural setting of the medieval village, whose streets come alive with noble ladies, knights and damsels, men-at-arms and grooms, squires, troubadours and jesters, makes every stage of the event truly fascinating.

During the long day of re-enactment you can watch performances by jugglers and mountebanks, standard-bearers and flag-throwers, archery contests, medieval games and tournaments of arms; and not only that: in the various shops inside the Castle you can buy, along with plenty of souvenirs, local specialities including mushrooms and sweets.... the latter absolutely not to be missed:-)

Each edition holds the promise of a spectacular day of celebration, opened by banners and standards, following a programme prepared with the greatest care and attention to detail.

In the late afternoon comes the traditional horse tournament: a contest of technique and skill with a good dose of danger, as the knights flash past at full speed on their steeds along the race course. The aim is to thread the long lance through a ring set on a target and, at full speed, complete the circuit to strike the Bersaglio del Biscione, which has a mechanism that signals the first to arrive. The diameter of the rings decreases with each round. In the end only the most skilful knights remain. Keep an eye on the Red Knight, a skilful and likeable rider.

Reaching Grazzano Visconti is not difficult: for those coming, like me, from Milan, you take the A1 as far as Piacenza. Once off the motorway, follow the signs for the SP 654R of Val Nure (the road