The Palio della Tonna is one of the most curious traditions in Civita di Bagnoregio. In the village's main square, donkeys compete in a race around a circular course, which gives the event its name — "tonna". The race recalls the role these animals once played in daily life and in transporting goods along the area's steep paths and trails.
The race in the square
The Palio takes place at the heart of Civita, turning Piazza San Donato into a racecourse for a few hours. Local teams, colours and crowds surround the track.
Donkeys and the village
Before the modern bridge, donkeys were essential for linking Civita to the surrounding territory. The race symbolically preserves this memory and folds it into a popular event.
Civita beyond the view
The Palio offers a chance to see the village as a lived-in place, not just a scenic attraction — and it's exactly this aspect that makes it worth including in a section dedicated to traditions.
