The Tournament of the Villages of Susa

Every year, on the penultimate weekend of July in the town of Susa, the Tournament of the Boroughs is held, an evocative historical re-enactment in which representatives of the six "boroughs" into which the town is divided compete in three competitions of skill, two of which are individual - archery and the Saracen joust - and one team - tug-of-war. The event commemorates the important character of Countess Adelaide of Susa - daughter of Olderico Manfredi and wife of Odo of Savoy - who reunited the estates of the household and knew how to rule with mastery even after the death of her husband, giving great prestige to the village of Susa. The festival is opened by a procession in historic dress through the streets of the town, while lighting the way only with torches. The procession reaches the Roman Arena, where-after the presentation and swearing in of the boroughs-the games begin. The winning borough is awarded the beautiful Palio by Countess Adelaide.