Fabrizio Ruggeri, the President of the Pro Loco of Isola Dovarese, is right: when in 1967 Mino Spedini started the seemingly crazy adventure of a Palio between districts in what was then just a village, he had no idea what it would become.
Spedini and then-mayor Guglielmo Agosti certainly did not imagine that the Palio would become a splendid 50-year-old, grown year after year in ideas and projects, nurtured by the passion of the Isolans (including the youngest), transformed by all those-and there are thousands of them-who come every year on the second weekend of September to pay homage to it.
But the Palio - which the Proloco honors with a book dedicated to its first 50 years, "Four Colors. History of the Palio of the Contrade of Isola Dovarese" edited by Juri Meda - was not and is not just a couple of days of merriment. It was and is a social and cultural glue, as the mayor of Isola, Giampaolo Gansi, well defines it, of all Isolans.
The four contrade and their adventurous September contention had the strength to transform a hamlet into a community. Of projecting a small village onto a national and international stage. Of passing on the passion from generation to generation.
The book, presented on Thursday, September 1 in Isola Dovarese, goes back to the beginnings of the adventure by tracing its transformations over the years. In every line one can sense how much the Palio is for all Isolans a tradition that is "felt" and lived not only with the body but also, and above all, with the heart.
It is amusing to discover, in these dense pages of history, that the contrada that has won the most editions of the Palio is Le Gerre with 15 editions won, followed by San Giuseppe (14), San Bernardino (12) and Porta Tenca (9).
That the contrada that finished last the most times is Porta Tenca with 14 editions finished in last place, followed by San Giuseppe (14), San Bernardino (11) and Le Gerre (5 editions).
That the contrada that has won the most consecutive editions of the Palio is the contrada of Porta Tenca with the 4 editions won between 1981 and 1984, followed by Le Gerre with the 3 consecutive editions won a first time between 1999 and 2001 and a second time between 2010 and 2012.
And who currently holds the record of victories in the Rooster Race? Laura Magni (Le Gerre), who has won 8 editions (1988, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006). In contrast, Francesca Castellucchio (San Bernardino), who has won 5 editions (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 2000), ranks second.
But the book also sinks its reflection into the historical roots of the Palio and its borgo. In the history of Anna Dovara and Filippino Gonzaga. As well as another Gonzaga, Ludovico, and Barbara of Brandenburg.
The history of the Palio is told by its protagonists over the years. As well as that of the Contrade, their labors and successes. There is no shortage of the Roll of Honor roll of the winners and splendid pictures of times gone by.
The book will be distributed during the Palio and is always available at the Pro Loco of Isola Dovarese for 20 euros.