“In Como, in the mouth of July, in 1159 BC, the Emperor Federico of Svevia called “Barbarossa” (in English we say “Red Beard”), after having defeated the town of Milano by the relevant help of the troops of Lodi, Pavia and Cremona, but overall the ones of Como, as grateful, he comes and visit Como. This allied town gives him big celebrations and welcomes. In his honour, the town organizes big banquets, luminaries, parades and competitions at the lake”.

Thanks to these news, handed down by the Chroniclers of those times, the “Palio del Baradello” of Como shows itself, in the full thematic faith, not only as a cheerful historical commemoration, but also as a completed cultural and civic event. The “Historical Procession”, which re-proposes the triumphal visit of the “Red Beard”, and his wife Beatrice of Borgogna, winds through the decorated streets of the town, between trumpets-blasts and rolls, with the victorious Imperial and Como’s troops which, as allied, defeated, after years of siege, their common enemy town of Milano. Legations, Armigers, Banners, Dignitaries, Knights and Ladies-in-waiting, war engines and the so-called “Town Carroccio”, they all complete this magnificent carrousel of historical characters. Thanks to the Palio del Baradello, Como re-lives the celebrating days of those times; it re-lives a glorious historical past which is proudly boasted by the town. The commemoration of the events of that time, which are celebrated each year, create a triumph of colors and presences, a magic moment which makes the town look like and smell like the past Middle Ages.