The Palio di San Ranieri is a historical reenactment event forming part of the Traditions of Pisa’s History and Identity and is one of the principal events of the Giugno Pisano celebrations.

On 17 June, in honour of Saint Ranieri, the city’s patron saint, the traditional rowing competition takes place on the waters of the Arno River between four boats inspired by the ancient Galere Stefaniane, the frigates of the Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen. The historical reenactment traces its origins to the Palio in honour of the Patron Saint conceived and promoted in 1935 by the local ENAL section. Chronologically, the reenactment is set in the sixteenth century, during the period of the Battle of Lepanto on 7 October 1571.

The race is contested on the Arno along a 1,500-metre upstream course by boats representing the city’s four historic districts: San Francesco, identified by the colour yellow; San Martino, red; Santa Maria, light blue; and Sant’Antonio, green. Each crew is composed of eight rowers, a helmsman, and a montatore. The latter must climb a ten-metre pole positioned at the finish line on a floating platform and retrieve the flag symbolizing the conquest of the Paliotto. Two symbolic ducks, by contrast, represent the less coveted distinction awarded to the last-place finishers.

To view the full calendar of the Giugno Pisano: https://www.turismo.pisa.it/eventi/Giugno-Pisano-2026

PROGRAMME

At 6:00 p.m., the river procession is scheduled to depart from Ponte della Cittadella and proceed towards the vicinity of the Scalo dei Renaioli. At 6:30 p.m., the draw for the water lanes will take place, followed by the start of the competition at 7:00 p.m.. Finally, at 7:30 p.m., the Palio award ceremony will be held at the Scalo dei Renaioli.

The crews. Each “fregata” crew consists of rowers, a coxswain, and a climber. Upon reaching the finish line, the climber is tasked with scaling one of the four ropes extending to the top of a 10-metre mast and seizing the blue banner (palio), the symbol of victory. Two (symbolic) ducks, on the other hand, represent the less coveted recognition awarded to the last-placed crew. This distinctive method of determining the winner is inspired by the Battle of Lepanto, when Christian troops, having boarded the Turkish flagship, captured the battle standard displayed on the mast of the Saracen vessel.

Light Blue Boat. Davide Barbieri, Mirko Barbieri, Edoardo Bellani, Alessandro Bernardini, Andrea Grassini, Edoardo Margheri, Edoardo Pagni, Luca Romani. Coxswain: Gabriele Ciulli. Climber: Joel Devine.
Red Boat. Daniel Baglini, Leonardo Pioli, Andrea Yraso, Francesco Iorio, Edoardo Ghelardi, Alessio Antoni, Marci Vigna, Fabio Perlata. Coxswain: Mariachiara Bellani. Climber: Iacopo Casella.
Green Boat. Simone Barandoni, Paolo Brillante, Francesco Carrara, Francesco Gadducci, Matteo Gadducci, Emanuele Giarri, Andrea Martelli, Daniele Sbrana. Coxswain: Clara Massaria. Climber: Leonardo Bellinvia.
Yellow Boat. Giorgio Boccini, Andrea Florio, Alessandro Galatolo, Simone Giorgi, Patryk Lysiak, Davide Merlino, Michele Pratesi, Vito Saggese. Coxswain: Riccardo Pellegrini.

The school project. As part of the initiatives dedicated to the city’s historic rowing traditions, this year the Municipality of Pisa, together with the four rowing associations participating in the Palio, promoted an educational project aimed at introducing students to the traditions, history, and identity of Pisa, while also encouraging them to engage in rowing activities. The project involved several classes from lower secondary schools in the local area, symbolically paired with the city’s four historic districts: Canottieri Arno (Green Boat) with “G. Toniolo” School; Canottieri San Francesco (Yellow Boat) with “V. Galilei” School; ASC Billi (Red Boat) with “G. Gamerra” School; and Canottieri Antoni (Light Blue Boat) with “G. Mazzini” School and the “G. Toniolo” branch campus. The conclusion of the programme will be celebrated on Wednesday, 17 June, at 6:15 p.m. at the Scalo dei Renaioli with an awards ceremony dedicated to the participating schools and the presentation of a themed publication.

TRAFFIC CHANGES, TRAFFIC AND PARKING

From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 June:

• Ponte della Fortezza, northbound-to-southbound lane: closure to vehicular traffic.
• Lungarno Galilei, between Ponte della Fortezza and Vicolo Lanfranchi: closure to vehicular traffic; no-parking zone with vehicle removal, except for authorised event vehicles; temporary closure of the cycle lane and prohibition of pedestrian access to the pavement due to the installation of spectator stands.
• Via Bovio: prohibition of access onto Lungarno Galilei; introduction of alternating one-way traffic regulated by priority according to the normal direction of travel, at low speed and with all necessary precautions.
• Via La Tina: prohibition of access onto Lungarno Galilei; introduction of alternating one-way traffic regulated by priority according to the normal direction of travel, at low speed and with all necessary precautions.
• Largo del Parlascio, western side (monument area): prohibition of pedestrian access on the pavement affected by the installation of a sales structure.

From 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 June, in Piazza San Sepolcro (the section facing Lungarno Galilei), a no-parking zone with vehicle removal will be established to allow the installation of sales structures. Parking spaces reserved for vehicles serving persons with disabilities will be temporarily suspended and relocated to nearby areas. In Piazza Solferino, on the side of the former Enel building (parking spaces preceding building number 1), a no-parking zone with vehicle removal will also be established to allow the installation of sales structures; parking spaces reserved for vehicles serving persons with disabilities will be temporarily suspended and relocated to nearby areas.

To allow the holding of the “San Ranieri Fair” in the historic city centre, from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 June, Piazza dei Cavalieri and Via Dini (between Piazza dei Cavalieri and Piazzetta Vallerini) will be subject to a no-parking zone with vehicle removal and closure to vehicular traffic. Traffic restrictions will also affect Via Consoli del Mare, between building number 2 and Piazza dei Cavalieri, Arco del Gualandi, and Via San Frediano, between Via Tavoleria and Piazza dei Cavalieri. To facilitate the installation of sales structures, a no-parking zone with vehicle removal will also be established in Piazza Cavallotti, on the side adjacent to the green area, between Via Santa Maria and Via Don Gaetano Boschi. In Via Santa Maria, between building number 85 and Via Ghini, a no-parking zone with vehicle removal will be enforced on both sides of the street. Changes are also planned in Via Corsica and Via Oberdan, where the pedestrian zone will be temporarily suspended for the entire duration of the event and used for sales structures.

Ban on the sale of beverages in glass containers and possession of explosive materials. From 4:00 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, 17 June, the following activities are prohibited: the sale, including takeaway sales, of beverages in glass or aluminium containers; the serving of beverages in glass containers, except where consumption takes place inside licensed premises or within their designated outdoor areas; the possession of beverages in glass or aluminium containers in public streets, squares, or areas open to the public; the possession or use of explosive materials, fireworks, rockets, firecrackers, bangers, smoke devices, and similar articles containing detonating, explosive, smoke-producing, or irritant mixtures, except those expressly authorised by the Municipality of Pisa.

The prohibition shall apply within the areas enclosed by the following boundaries: the Lungarni between Ponte della Cittadella and Ponte della Fortezza (including all intermediate bridges); Northern area: Via Santa Marta, Via Edmondo De Amicis, Via Angelo Battelli, Via di Pratale, Via Lucchese, Via Contessa Matilde, Via Bonanno Pisano, Piazza di Terzanaia; Southern area: Via Porta a Mare, Via Cesare Battisti, Via Alfredo Catalani, Via Mascagni, Piazza della Stazione, Via Filippo Corridoni, Via Carlo Cattaneo, Via Giuliano da Sangallo, Piazza Don Giovanni Minzoni, Lungarno Fibonacci. Violators will be subject to fines ranging from €100.00 to €300.00.

Ban on the use of sound amplification and broadcasting systems. From 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 June, until 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, 18 June, it is prohibited to install outside buildings, on public streets or squares, in areas open to the public, or along the banks of the River Arno, any type of sound amplification or broadcasting equipment, except those installed and managed by the Municipality of Pisa. The areas concerned include the Lungarni between Ponte della Cittadella and Ponte della Fortezza, including all intermediate bridges; Northern area: Piazza Garibaldi, Borgo Stretto, Via Curtatone e Montanara, Piazza delle Vettovaglie, Piazza Sant’Omobono, Piazza Dante, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Piazza Cairoli; Southern area: Piazza XX Settembre, Piazza Gambacorti, Corso Italia, Piazza San Sepolcro. Violators will be subject to fines ranging from €100.00 to €300.00.