Racing silk of the Crossbow 2010

The Racing silk of the Crossbow is a contest of arms which takes place every year in the splendid city of Gubbio, the last Sunday of May.

Sound the trumpets and historical parades in period costumes.
Flags, banners, displays of flag-wavers are the outline for this event, that is lived and felt by the entire population, which for years met with great success since the increasing number of visitors.
The event has its roots in antiquity, as deduced from a document dating from the fifteenth century in which you outline for the first time the Palio, held in honor of St. Ubaldo.
Even today, the participants will win the prized award, after the competition held just popular with the crossbow in Piazza Grande. But what is it?
Is a competition with the crossbow in fact, an ancient instrument of war, recognized and feared in the past as one of the most powerful tools of war that could be found before the advent of gunpowder, and a bow attached to a shaft of wood or steel with a tight-rope, from which part of an arrow, to declaim victory, must hit the target, called ACT.
The crossbowmen of Gubbio and those of San Sepolcro compete in the square, applauded by a crowd fervor.
The crossbow has abandoned its role as an instrument of war and instead took the highest meaning of an instrument of peace and witness of history and all of Gubbio.

For more information, visit the city of Gubbio or web site of Balestrieri.