Investiture of the mayor

The re-enactment of the investiture of the Podesta is the opening event of the International White Truffle Fair.

This is aninterpretation of the legend that tells the origin of the city’s Donkey Palio.

How it takes place

It is held in Piazza Risorgimento in Alba.

The ceremony begins with the entrance of the Lady of Alba, a female figure allegorically representing the city, accompanied by maidservants, dancers and the representatives of the Boroughs sporting their coats of arms and colors.

This is followed by the parade of the Municipality’s Historical Group composed of: the Podestà, notary, scribe, bishop, some prelates, the Captain of the People and the armed escort.

A formal reading of the Podestà’s oath then takes place, as he receives the symbolic objects of his power: the sword, the medallion, and the key that symbolically “opens the gates” of the Fair.

Now it is the turn of the Borough Regents to pronounce the act of submission to the new Lord and ask permission to run the Donkey Palio the following Sunday.

Naturally, the Podesta agrees.

The event ends in a festive mood with theperformance of the “City of Alba” flag-wavers.

The history of reenactment

The origin of the Palio is a mixture of history and legend based on actual historical events.

In 1275 the cities of Alba and Asti, which had always been bitter enemies, were at war.

On August 10 of the same year, a portion of Asti’s troops put the Monastery of San Frontiniano located south of the rival city to the sword.

As a manifestation of their momentary supremacy, the Astians ran a palio along the walls of Alba.

The episode was also reported by the chronicler of the time, Guglielmo Ventura-a documentary mention that constitutes the earliest historical record of the Palio of Asti.

Legend has it that, to mock the enemy who had merely succeeded in defeating a small community of friars without ever breaching the city’s walls, the new Podestà of Alba ordered a town palio to be run with donkeys.

As legend has it, even today the Palio degli Asini is called by the new Podesta during the investiture ceremony.

The figure of the Podesta

In the Middle Ages the executive and judicial power of cities was administered by the Podestà, while, the command of the militia was entrusted to the Capitano del Popolo.

The office of the Podesta lasted from six months to two years and could only be entrusted to people from outside the municipality, so that impartial decision-making was guaranteed during its administration.

Later the position became a real profession practiced by professionals who received regular salaries.