“Palio or Regatta of San Ranieri” | Pisa

The Palio di San Ranieri is back on the water with the challenge in the Arno between the four boats representing the four historical city quarters: San Francesco (yellow boat), San Martino (red boat) Santa Maria (light blue boat) and Sant’Antonio (green boat).

The regatta starts late in the afternoon with the boats racing for 1500 metres against the stream from the Ponte della Cittadella to the finish line at the Scalo dei Renaioli in Lungarno Mediceo.

Ten members, including rowers, coxswain and fitter, compete for the “paliotto” of victory, a flag hoisted on a 10metre high flagpole that represents the real finishing line. The flag has a symbolic value, because it recalls the fighting flame that Christians took from the Muslims during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571

The Giugno Pisano revolves around the 17th of June, Saint Ranieri, known as Ranieri Scàcceri, born into a wealthy merchant family. Ranieri died on 17 June 1161 and over the centuries his cult grew to such an extent that from 1632 he was venerated as Patron Saint of Pisa. Every year the celebrations begin the night before; the city prepares for the Regatta with a prologue of lights and fireworks, the Luminara.

There is also the traditional San Ranieri Fair, which runs from Piazza dei Miracoli to Piazza dei Cavalieri, along Via Santa Maria and Via Corsica: stalls open from 8 am to 8 pm.