The Regatta or Palio di San Ranieri takes place every year in Pisa on 17 June. In the waters of the Arno, the four boats representing the city's four historic districts compete: San Francesco (yellow boat), San Martino (red boat), Santa Maria (blue boat) and Sant'Antonio (green boat).
Among this year's novelties are the 4 new oar suits for the Palio boats, delivered on 15 June, to the crews, and 20 costumes for the design of the new Palio river procession.
Crew. Each 'frigate' consists of eight rowers, the coxswain and the fitter. The latter, at the finish line, has the task of climbing one of the four ropes to the top of a 10-metre high flagpole and grabbing the blue palio, the symbol of victory. Two (symbolic) ducks, on the other hand, represent the coveted prize for the last finishers. This particular way of awarding victory is inspired by the feat of Lepanto when the Christian troops, once they had boarded the Turkish flagship, seized the fighting flame placed on the flagpole of the Saracen boat.
Programme 2022
5.30 p.m. Departure from the Cittadella Bridge of the river procession, which will arrive at about 6.15 p.m. at the Scalo dei Renaioli: here the figures will disembark, with the transfer of some of them to the boarding boat
6.30 p.m. Drawing of the water lanes
7.00 p.m. Start of the regatta on the River Arno with arrival in front of the Museo di San Matteo - Lungarno Mediceo
7.30 p.m. Prize-giving ceremony at the Scalo dei Renaioli
The boats race for 1500 metres against the current from the Ponte della Cittadella, at the Canottieri Arno headquarters, to the arrival at the Scalo dei Renaioli.
Ten members, including rowers, coxswain and fitter, compete for the 'paliotto' of victory, a flag hoisted on a ten-metre high flagpole representing the true finish line.
A flagpole with a highly symbolic value, because it recalls the fighting flame that the Christian troops took from the Muslims during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
San Ranieri
The Giugno Pisano revolves around 17 June, the day of the patron saint San Ranieri, born 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 the 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, Piazza Cavallotti/Via S Maria , Via Corsica and Piazza dei Cavalieri. The stalls will display handicrafts, ethnic items, sweets and products of all kinds. The Fair will take place from 08.00 to 20.30.
Traffic modifications. The following traffic changes are planned to allow the event to take place:
- Ponte della Fortezza, north-southbound lane: closure to vehicular transit, from 5.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m;
- Lungarno Galilei: closure to vehicular traffic of the section between the Ponte della Fortezza bridge and Palazzo Lanfranchi, from 5.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.; no parking with forced removal except for the organisation vehicles, from 2.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. in the section between the Ponte della Fortezza bridge and Palazzo Lanfranchi.
- Via Bovio: no entry onto the Lungarno Galilei and establishment of the alternating one-way system with right of way to the direction normally in force, at low speed, adopting all necessary precautions, from 5.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.
