Palio of Saint JamesPalio di San Jacopo

Palio di San Jacopo is Gallicano’s annual patronal festival in honor of Saint James. Each summer, the town is divided into three districts (rioni) – Borgo Antico (red), Bufali (black and white), and Monticello (blue) – which compete with elaborate allegorical floats (carri) and choreographed performances on a common theme. The multi-day celebration occurs around July 25 (the feast of St. James), featuring parades through Gallicano’s main squares, colorful traditional costumes and music. Locals spend months preparing floats and costumes to showcase the theme, culminating in the award of the Palio banner to the winning district. The festival unites the community for pageantry and folk traditions characteristic of the Garfagnana region.

The Palio originates from Gallicano’s tradition of friendly rivalry among neighboring districts. It coincides with the feast of the town’s patron saint (San Jacopo/St. James), blending religious devotion with local folkloric competition. The festival is a deeply felt expression of communal identity and pride in Gallicano, reflecting Tuscan folk culture.