FOLKLORE: WHEN TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION

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FOLKLORE: WHEN TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION

From the Palio degli Asini in live streaming to the Salotto del Folklore, all the Alba autumn events thanks to the Giostra delle Cento Torri 

Following the leitmotiv that marks this 90^th edition of the International Alba White Truffle Fair, tradition and innovation go hand in hand, also when talking about folklore. To anticipate Fair times, despite the greater attention needed due to the spread of Covid-19, here comes the appointment with the rediscovery of the millenary history of Alba through folkloric events and historical re-enactments that involve and entertain visitors in a carousel of colors, flags, music and popular games. The time of the Fair is marked by ritual moments in which to meet, year after year, to relive the history and tradition of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero. 

"Folklore is certainly one of the souls of the Truffle Fair, linking the intangible culture of the world of food and wine to the centuries-old tradition of the City of Alba - says the President of the International Alba White Truffle Fair, Liliana Allena - . The great merit of recreating the medieval atmosphere every year, and giving life to the many events related to folklore, goes to the boroughs and their presidents, the Giostra delle Cento Torri, the flag-wavers and the Historic City of Alba Group: we wholeheartedly thank all of those who, in this particular year, have contributed their commitment and passion in the realization of a Palio, which although different, remains a testimony to a tradition that simply could not be missing”.  

At the meeting on Saturday September 26^th, the complete program of the various events will be unveiled at the Sala Beppe Fenoglio in Alba, with the official presentation of the Drappo del Palio degli Asini 2020 and the lavish weekend that will anticipate the opening of the Fair with the Folklore Weekend. 

Tradition is renewed, starting with the stylized donkey painted by Pinot Gallizio in 1932, then resumed in 1947 and 1948 with the two Palios won by what was once the Borgo dei Sagrin, now extinct, then kept alive every year since 1967, the year of founding of the Giostra delle Cento Torri, with only one interruption in 1976. Valerio Berruti was chosen again to create this year's coveted banner - with a welcome return, after the experience of 2011 - and the honor of “Amico della Giostra” was also conferred. The subject of this 57^th cloth was "The strongest embrace", giving continuity to the path undertaken during the lockdown by the talented artist from Alba, who is capable of conquering the most prestigious international stages with his art and was recently appointed ambassador of Alba Creative City Unesco: his solidarity initiative raised over 260,000 euros for the benefit of the Covid hospital, outfitted at the Verduno hospital. 

"I sincerely thank the Carousel of the Hundred Towers for awarding me the title of 'Friend of the Carousel'. I know that for them it’s the greatest recognition and I’m proud of this position, which would have made my father proud; he was active for many years in the Borgo del Fumo - declares Valerio Berruti -. I know the Borghi’s work well: I thank the people who work without compensation to keep our traditions alive and make them known, thereby honoring us. The Palio degli asini was born with a goliardic spirit and this is a fundamental principle. My “bear hug” goes to all those who have worked in this special year, helping us smile, despite everything ". 

The Mayor of the City of Alba Carlo Bo: "The Drappo del Palio is one of the characteristic elements of our folklore, the prize that the boroughs of Alba compete for every year until the last lap of the circuit on their stubborn donkeys to enter the “honor roll” of our goliardic, but no less heartfelt, race. This year it will be a different Palio, behind closed doors, but we really wanted to thank all our volunteers from the Villages because we would never have been able to leave the 90^th edition without one of the most beloved events. Being the Painter of the Palio I believe that for a local artist, even an established artist such as Valerio Berruti, whom we thank, it can be an opportunity for pride and to form an even deeper bond with their land. So today gives us a foretaste of the magical atmosphere of the Fair, a revisited and fittingly safe edition, but which we’re sure will be exciting”. 

Emanuele Bolla, the Council Member for Tourism, Shows and Events of the City of Alba adds: "Many thanks to the President of the Giostra, the Presidents of the Boroughs and all the volunteers who had to face a difficult challenge. We first asked ourselves whether to organize the Palio, and then how to do it. We have chosen to go ahead, to try, not to give up, appealing to that sense of resilience that has always characterized our city ". 

The Folklore Weekend will anticipate the official inauguration of the Fair, Saturday October 3^rd and Sunday October 4^th, explained the president of the Giostra delle Cento Torri, Luca Sensibile: "We have chosen to send a great message of recovery, also and above all for the citizen of the Boroughs, bearing witness to our commitment to keep tradition alive, despite the fact that the situation did not allow us to keep the appointments as they were. Always with the utmost respect for current regulations, with the primary objective of safeguarding the health and safety of the hundreds of volunteers of the boroughs, as well as the thousands of tourists and visitors who every year join the citizens of Alba and the territory to enjoy the related events at Folklore, we revised the formula of the now consolidated proposals, innovating and experimenting with new formats, in a fluid and widespread context throughout the historic center, and beyond ". 

As per tradition, the first Sunday of the month, October 4^th will see the goliardic Palio degli Asini in the spotlight, the main event of the chapter dedicated to folklore. For the occasion, we therefore go back to our origins, with the return of the race to the heart of the historic center: the Palio field will in fact be set up around the Duomo, between the Risorgimento and Rossetti squares. Among the new changes is the race time, at 8.30 in the morning, and above all the access to the event, which will be behind closed doors, to avoid the inevitable risks deriving from the gathering of spectators, but will be relaunched with greater media coverage. The Palio, in fact, opened by the performance of the Sbanideratori and Musici Group of the City of Alba, will be broadcast in live streaming thanks to six cameras on the institutional channels of the Ente Fiera, the Municipality of Alba, the Giostra delle Cento Torri and the Piedmont Region,  for a spectacular and exciting show that will see the nine town boroughs compete for the coveted cloth that belongs to the winner of the race, with costumed extras along the route to cheer on donkeys and jockeys.  

Another innovation this year, to anticipate the proposal of the excellent products that will alternate in the Salotto dei Gusti e dei Profumi in Piazza Risorgimento, is the glassware set up in the Piazza del Duomo. This will become, for the weekend of October 3^rd  and 4^th  (from 10 to 19.30 of both days), the Folklore Lounge, offering an important showcase to the boroughs, whose presence is linked to the ten-year success of the International Alba White Truffle Fair. This is the epicenter from which animations in medieval costumes and re-enactments of figures in the streets and squares of the city center will start. The story of the Giostra delle Cento Torri will be told through the display of images and historical relics, but also with the launch of postcards dedicated to the Palio - taking up the ancient tradition of the poster announcing the donkey race -, created this year by the Venetian graphic design studio “Small Caps”. 

To strengthen the link with our history, the experience of Alba Sotterranea is renewed, thanks to which - in collaboration with the Borgo di San Lorenzo - it will be possible to discover the roots of the city in the company of a professional archaeologist in medieval dress: the itinerary includes a visit to 3 underground sites, including the “Invisible City” stage, with the remains of the 12^th and 13^th  century fortresses and towers, ending at the “F. Eusebio” Civic Museum. Thanks to the guide of the archaeologists of the Ambiente & Cultura association it will also be possible, for this special occasion, to discover - upon reservation - the “Salone Monumentale” of the Municipality, where the Drappi del Palio will be exhibited and the precious "Book of the Chain", a work of the end of the 1400’s which is a collection of the statutes of the Municipality of Alba of the previous two centuries, an excellent testimony of  medieval Alba. 

The tours - with reservations required by the day before the visit - will depart from the meeting point in front of the Tourist Office in Piazza Risorgimento 2, next to the Salotto del Folklore, every weekend of the Fair and in the special openings of December 7^th and 8^th, at 10.00, 11.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00 and 17.00.

For information and reservations: www.ambientecultura.it (Underground Alba section) or write to 339/7349949 or 342/6433395.

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PER INFORMAZIONI

Ente Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba
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Caricato il 02/10/2020

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