Quintana Cybea

Italy Hotels > more tips > Tradition and History of Italy > Quintana Cybea

Every year, on the first weekend of august an historical tournament attracts thousands of people to Massa, a mid-size town located up to the northern border of Tuscany.

“Quintana Cybea” is the name of the prestigious event that first took place on June 10, 1557 to celebrate the foundation of the town wanted by the Marquise Albericus Malaspina and his wife Isabetta Della Rovere.

The “Quintana Cybea” is an historical recalling of century XVI, where a joust is held in a special close race course right in the heart of the ancient town.

Five knights in renaissance costumes representing the town’s five districts are riding trying to take over one another and in the same time collect the rings hanging down the poles placed along the course, using their wooden lance…

The knight who collects more rings and reaches the winning post first achieves the great honour of holding and then parading the Palio for his district as he carries the trophy to the home where it will be showed to all the people all the year around till the next race.

By the roll of the, the waving of flags, the bugles incessant sound, the historical parade winds down the old town catching up the field of games where the challenge will be held.