Culture and Sport
The main festivity is on the first Sunday in August. The historical parade with more than 1500 people dressed in Renaissance costume is held in celebration of Saint Emidio, protector of the city. The parade is followed by a tournament, called Quintana, in which six knights, each competing for one of the six neighborhoods in the city, ride the course one after the other trying to hit an effigy of an Arab warrior. Strength and ability are necessary for the knight to win the palio or grand prize.
The town is also home to Ascoli Calcio, currently in the Serie B. The team is also known as "Picchio" (Woodpecker), in honour of the bird shown on the Marche's Flag. Ascoli Piceno was founded by ancient italic people after following a woodpecker that signed them the place.
Read more about this topic: Ascoli Piceno
Famous quotes containing the words culture and/or sport:
“When women finally get liberated, they’ll do the same that men do—dog eat dog— that’s what our culture is.... Not cooperation but assassination. Women will cooperate until they attain certain goals. Then one will begin to destroy the other.”
—Alice Neel (1900–1984)
“Drag racing is a sport of egos, and it’s all male egos.”
—Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney (b. 1940)