The Palio of the Ancient Maritime Republics is a race that is held between the four ancient cities which shared the supremacy in the seas of southern Europe: Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and, of course, Venice.
Begun in 1954 and is held alternately by the four cities to commemorate the events of the four Republics, whose fleets dominated the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages.
The Palio is preceded by a parade with flags, trumpets and drums, in which each “Republic” remembers the important events of their maritime history.
