La Nott de' Bisò of Faenza

The month of June in Faenza is called the "month of the Palio" and kicks off the festivities of the Niballo, a medieval joust first desired by Frederick Barbarossa. Each year the conclusion of the Palio is sanctioned by the stroke of midnight on the following January 5, with the Nott de Bisò, when the Niballo-the puppet depicting Hannibal, the symbol of adversity-is brought to Piazza del Popolo on an ox-drawn cart and burned in a huge bonfire. In the course of the festivities, bisò - hot wine boiled with flavorings and spices prepared inside large cauldrons - is drunk, of which each district has its own recipe kept very secret and handed down from generation to generation. The bisò is poured into the splendid gotti, bowls made of Faenza ceramics decorated with the symbol of the city and the five rioni. To accompany these ancient customs, the streets of the districts come alive with food stands offering traditional Romagna dishes such as cappelletti and piadine. Art, craftsmanship and tradition come together, then, in a magical evening symbolizing a new beginning. An excellent opportunity to visit the city famous worldwide for the art of ceramics.