TRADITIONS OF PAVIA
Pavian Autumn
from September 15th to 19th
The consolidated tradition of the Pavian Autumn, born in 1948, takes place on the first days of september. A complete look to the local typical food in which great space also is left to tastings and to artisan workshops that expose and show their works.
Raid Pavia-Venice
May 30th
In 1929 Italian outboarders began to compete in the mythical Raid: 413 kilometers from Pavia to Venice where, thanks to the modern powerful motors, you can come in first after about 2 hours. The tracing includes also a special test, the
Montelera Cup. The Raid Pavia-Venice, represents for Italian and International speed-boat the more important and prestigious event, not only a test for pilots, boats and motors, but also the demonstration of the validity of the connection between the
Po Plain and the Adriatic.
Carnival
Cegni
Week of carnival In this small center, a Carnival with particularly archaic features takes place. Among the typical characters there are two married couples, one of them is young, the other one is old, that, at the end of the festival, execute a dance, called "the poor woman", representing a scene of death and resurrection. The music is executed by two instruments of the local tradition, the pipe, accompanied by the bagpipe: the only case of survival of this instrument in northern Italy.
Processions of Thursday and Saint Friday
Ronagnese
Saint week In the evening of the Saint thursday there is a procession in which a penitent, completely hidden by a red habit, barefooted and dragging some chains, plays the part of Christ who goes to the Calvary carrying one great wooden cross on the shoulders. His identity must remain disowned not to remove value from the penance. On the Saint friday the procession of the statue of the dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows takes place. Great bonfires with shape of cross are ignited on hills.
Burning of the devil
Vigevano
20 August or next Sunday It is the traditional festivity of one of the quarters of the city, whose saint patron is
Bernardo from
Mentone, represented in the action to submit the demon. A puppet representing the devil is brought along the ways and then burnt.
