Between Arches and Palaces – August

“Tra Archi e Palazzi “is a competitive cultural and historical event set in the 700 Bovino at the Corte dei Duchi Guevara. The Guevaras, the powerful Lords of Navarre, ruled the Duchy of Bovino from 1575 until the end of the feudal state in 1806. The Guevaras had a profound and positive incidence in the history of Bovino, in fact they, with their prestige and their power in Naples, maintained in great dignity the Ducal Castle and the village itself, building residential buildings that characterize the Borgo Antico di Bovino , and other monumental architectural works such as: large post taverns, fountains, bridges and avant-garde rustic farms, libraries and art galleries of the highest order.
In August 1748, in the Duchy of Bovino there is a Palio of great beauty that depicts the Venerated Effigy of the Madonna of Valleverde. In this way a riot is unleashed: every district would like to keep it in its church, every Confraternity would like to take it in procession. Thus with the opinion of the wise Councilors, Mr. Duca, Don Giovanni Maria Guevara, brings together the heads of the districts and announces the tender:
“Dexterity and strength the Palio assigning, to the Rione that will have them two champions That, quick enough and full of gifts, From the winning bows returning”
The district that will have two winning players in the race between city arches and buildings will have the prize … … “TRA ARCHI E PALAZZI” is born.
The districts of “San Procopio”, “San Martino”, “La Portella”, “Wall of the Angel” and “Wall of Death”, will each signal two champions who will compete for the conquest of the Palio.
Bovino 6
The holy Effige for a whole year will belong to the winners, will be carried in procession by their Brotherhood and will be kept in their church. The simple and strenuous, fun and demanding races are inspired by children’s street games: “lu zuòdde”, “la corse a tre ccosse”, “la còrse cu li tragne”, “la còrse cu li circhie”, “la còrse “nda li sacche”, “la atta ce-chéte”, “le cavallètte”.
The route starts from the Cathedral, passes through all the Arches and Palaces of the historic center, Corso V. Emanuele and the Cathedral returns. The panorama that serves as the background to the event is the Borgo Antico. It is divided into 3 main moments from late afternoon until late evening:
1st Moment: It is represented by a series of paintings of life of the Epoch (1700) with particular reference both to the Palaces and to the Costumes of the noble families, each with its own banner referring also to the color of the respective neighborhood, in contrast to life and to the activities of the rural, artisan and domestic world.
2nd Moment: Blessing of the Palio in Piazza Duomo, with the participation of the confraternities, in the presence of the Minister of the Duke, the Judges of the competition, the Players and the Musicians, all strictly in period costume. After the blessing the Players are accompanied by the Judges to their respective buildings where they are received by the Notables and gradually begins to build the procession.
3rd Moment: It is the ludic – competitive one; young bovines (Players) representing the five districts of the historic center, after having lent the Public Oath, will compete for the Palio of the Madonna di Valleverde by participating in six or more final competitions inspired by the popular games of the time.