The Medieval "Festa dei Ceri" in Gubbio

Every year on May 15, the town of Gubbio celebrates a medieval festival called “Festa dei Ceri”. This festival is as old as 8 centuries and involves huge long wooden sticks or “Ceri”. The Festa dei Ceri is followed by a mass at the town’s main square called “Piazza Grande”. Let’s learn more about the medieval Festa dei Ceri in Gubbio.

Medieval Festa dei Ceri in Gubbio

Festa dei Ceri attracts more than 150,000 people and is the town’s way of honoring it’s patron Saint Ubaldo who had miraculous abilities.

Every man, woman and child takes part in this local festival for which the town is divided in different teams/groups that are distinguished by the colors of their clothing:

Saint Ubaldo group wears Yellow

Saint Antonio group wears Black

Saint Georgio group wears Blue  

Gubbio on the day of Festa dei Ceri

Piazza Grande, Gubbio

What happens in the Festa dei Ceri??

The town of Gubbio is divided into three teams who carry these Ceri across town. The 3 different teams of the town hold the octagonal Ceri which weighs more than 250kgs. These Ceri are huge wax statues of each saint and are lifted by the respective teams in the morning of May 15 at 11:30 am.

Subsequently, the teams undertake three laps in the Piazza Grande and take the Ceri across town. When the Ceri are carried, there is a lot of shouting and merriment by the onlookers. It is an unusual sight as everyone follows the teams while the ceri bob and sway in different hands.

Consequently, these ceri are then rested on a base in Via Savelli della Porta while the teams go for lunch. At 6:00 p.m the Ceri return to the Basilica of Saint Ubaldo on top of the hill of Gubbio. The festival shows the spirit of the community and the belief of the folklore! Some pictures of the festival from 2015:

Piazza Grande, Gubbio

The morning of the festival in Gubbio

Locals in Gubbio

The dapper gentlemen in Gubbio

Everyone’s waiting in Gubbio

Is it worth going to Festa dei Ceri??

YES! The Festa dei Ceri is totally worth visiting as everything is done as per the customs and rituals that were followed eons ago. Festa dei Ceri is a medieval Italian festival that should not be missed.

Not only is it eccentric but also intriguing. And the spirit of the festa and the mayhem are addictive.

I planned my entire trip to Italy to see it and I’m proud to have been involved in something so medieval. The next day’s paper had a shot of the festival from above and it was hard to believe that I really managed to stay intact among all that crowd and chaos. Going to Gubbio was almost as if I had traveled back in time. 

Also read: Solo Female Travel Tips to Italy

Festa dei Ceri (Image Credits: Umbria Tourism)

I might have traveled back in time in Gubbio

Look at those medieval flags in Gubbio

The crowd at the Festa dei Ceri

Important Points to Remember:

• Book a hotel on time. Everything is full by the first week of March!
• Reach Piazza Grande a little before 10 a.m.
• As a tourist/spectator try not to do anything that upsets the locals.
• Make sure you get are either at the corner or in the centre of the the piazza as you may be pushed and shoved especially when the Ceri arrive
• If you’re not staying in Gubbio, check the bus schedule from Perugia as there is no train track to this town
• Grab a bite before you head to the piazza as you won’t get anything to eat for a long time.

Gubbio is an ancient town with Gothic architecture and a Roman theatre at the entrance. There is something extremely charming about the narrow streets of the town that add to its charming ancient”ness”. Also read: Umbria Travel Guide

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