The Quadra of Asola

During the 14th century Asola was influenced by the power and fortunes of the Gonzaga, the Visconti and the Republic of Venice and was later aggregated with the Serenissima. To commemorate these ancient events, every year in the municipality of Asola there is the Quadra, a historical re-enactment in which games and parades in period costumes are organized. The days leading up to Sunday-the main day of the festival-are enlivened by parades, performances and food stands. The highlight of the festival is held on the last day in the afternoon hours, when the "Disfida" between the contrade is held. This is a race - along a rectangular course - in which three corridors from each contrada participate, having to complete a lap of the square carrying a sack weighing 15 kilograms. The aim of the race is to make "one's sack" - marked with the colors of one's contrada - complete as many laps as possible within a time span of seven minutes. The race is also called a "valetudo race," because in the course of it, runners can hinder their opponents by adopting various tactics.