Festival of the “Ceri”

Francesca Orsini2025-10-22T10:59:51+02:00

It takes place every year on May 15th, the eve of the feast of the patron saint, Sant’Ubaldo.
The CERI are three tall, heavy wooden statues topped by the statues of Sant’Ubaldo (patron saint of bricklayers), San Giorgio (patron saint of haberdashers), and Sant’Antonio Abate (patron saint of donkeys and farmers, and, more recently, of students). The statues are mounted on stretchers that allow the ceraioli to carry the Ceri on their shoulders and run through the city streets to the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo, atop Mount Ingino.
An evocative morning ceremony precedes the race.
At noon, the spectacular ‘alzata’ of the Ceri takes place in Piazza Grande; immediately afterward, they make three dizzying laps of the square and then split up to perform a ‘display’ through the city streets. They are then placed in Via Savelli, where they remain until the race.
In the afternoon, the procession with the statue of Sant’Ubaldo leaves the Cathedral and reaches the top of Via Dante, where the Bishop blesses the Ceri, which then begin their frenetic race. After passing through the city’s main streets, they return to Piazza Grande and complete three more “birate,” then reach the Porta dell’Angelo (also known as Porta di Sant’Ubaldo) to begin the ascent of Monte Ingino.
At the end of the race, the Ceri are placed in the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo, while the statues of the saints are carried back to the city amidst song and torchlight processions.
The festival may have its roots in ancient pagan rites, but only its Christian and celebratory nature in honor of Sant’Ubaldo is historically documented.
The main stages of the Corsa dei Ceri are repeated the Sunday after May 15th for the Festa dei Ceri Mezzani, where the youngest children take centre stage, and on June 2nd, Republic Day, for the Festa dei Ceri Piccoli, dedicated to children.

Festival of the “Ceri”

Festival of the “Ceri”

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