This post will be very long. I hope you will stay around while I try to describe this extraordinary race.
The whole population of Gubbio is involved in the Corsa dei Ceri, which has been celebrated for centuries on the anniversary of the death of Gubbio’s patron saint, Ubaldo. The exact origins are unknown, and possibly date as far back as pagan times and were associated with spring, the fertility of the earth and feasts honoring Ceres, the goddess of crops.
Some scholars believe the name comes from this, as the “Ceri” are not giant candles at all, but enormous wooden structures. Two octagonal prisms are placed on top of each other, reaching a height of about 7 metres. On the top, they carry images of St Ubaldo, St George, the protector of merchants and St Anthony, protector of farm workers and students.
In order to be carried through the narrow streets of the city and up to the top of Monte Ingino, the Ceri are perched on top of “barelle”, a type of stretcher with cross-poles, which the “ceraioli” place on their shoulders. Teams of bearers run with the Ceri on their stretchers at breakneck speed through the town…it is a sight to behold.
The day begins early, around 5.00am with the beating of drums. The “Capitani” (those responsible for the organisation of the festival), the 3 “Capodieci” (those in charge of the 10 bearers of the Ceri) and all of the bearers hurry to the Church of San Francesco della Pace to hear mass and to take up the statues of the 3 saints which are kept there.
The Church of San Francesco della Pace just happened to be directly below our hotel room so we got to see the participants gathering.
The statues are then taken to the Palazzo dei Consoli where they are fixed to the top of the Ceri. The streets are packed by this stage. A handsome chap, who appears several times during the day leads the statues into the Piazza.
The bearers all receive a bunch of flowers from young girls wearing traditional costume in the Church of Santa Lucia. We didn’t see this, but we saw the results.
At 11.00am a parade of all the participants works its way to the Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo dei Consoli. We managed to secure a good position above the crowd to see the parade work its way through the narrow streets.
Each team has a colour, St Ubaldo has yellow, St George, blue and St Anthony, black. Someone from each team carries a jug of water which will later be smashed. The handsome fellow reappeared, this time on horseback to lead the parade, from behind the first band.
We then pushed our way to the Piazza to try to see the raising of the Ceri…along with thousands of others. We didn’t get a good position, so we missed some of the rituals, including the breaking of the jugs, and the actual raising of the Ceri, but we did see them once they were up and running.
The Ceri go hurtling around the streets, their statues bobbing and swaying, with their little robes flapping in the wind…I told you it was bizarre.
This is not the actual race. The Ceri do their rounds, visiting selected places to greet people.
When the Ceri have made their calls they are brought to Via Savelli della Porta, where they are rested on prepared bases.
We just happened to arrive there in time to see the Ceri making their way to their resting spots.
St Ubaldo had to be laid down for some running repairs and everybody rushed in to touch his robes or his face.
While the Ceri are resting, the bearers head for tavernas to eat and prepare for the race.
At 6.00pm the race begins. The Ceri are raised once more after being blessed by the Bishop and they begin their frenetic race through the streets. The streets are crowded with onlookers and teams surge ahead of the Ceri so the way is opened for the bearers to run with these enormous things on their shoulders. There is a constant stream of new bearers ready to take over from their quickly exhausted team mates.
We found a good position to watch the Ceri race past us. First of all St Ubaldo made his way to the start of the race.
Then our familiar horsemen appeared.
Not long after the Ceri came racing around the corner.
If you look closely in the next photo you will see that the middle Ceri has toppled over., drawing loud gasps from the crowd. It was quickly recovered and went on its way.
While they were tearing through the town we ran up to the Piazza dei Signoria to snare a position for the bit of the race where they enter the Piazza and, at a sign from the mayor make 3 circles around the Piazza before heading out of the town and speed up the path to the Basilica of St Ubaldo at the top of Monte Ingino. We had been up earlier in a slightly scary chair lift and I can report that the mountain is high and steep.
The horsemen entered the Piazza first.
The crowd closed in behind them.
Every vantage point was taken.
Then the Ceri appeared and did their circles.
And headed off towards the gate out of the town.
From this point on we watched the rest of the race on TV as we realized we would never get a reasonable position near the finish and we wanted to see how it ended. To watch these huge things being carried up the mountain path at great speed is incredible.
You might think the first one home was the winner, but no, this is not the case. The race is always run in the same order, St Ubaldo first, St George second and St Anthony third. The streets are too narrow to allow passing and there are established rules, which must not be broken.
The prize goes to the one who has put the greatest distance between himself and the one behind, or to close the door to the door of the church to prevent the ones behind from entering, which St Ubaldo succeeded in doing this time. Attention is also paid to the efficiency of the takeover of the bearers and any falls that may have taken place.
Heated discussions take place over hours, or days, about who was the best on the day. I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear all this.
Once all 3 Ceri are inside the gates of the Basilica of St Ubaldo they remain there until the following year when, on the first Sunday in May, with much ceremony, the Ceri are once again brought down to the town for the festivities to begin again.
If you go to Gubbio to watch the Corso dei Ceri, and I really suggest that you do, here are some tips.
One of the best places from which to watch the race is on some strong shoulders.
…or secure a ladder and climb to a window ledge.
You are never too young to get involved.
Wander around the streets and take in all the sights.
Enjoy the bands that play all day. One even wandered into the restaurant where we had lunch.
Go to Gubbio the day before the race to get the lay of the land and stay longer if you can as there are other activities in the days following the event.
Stay in the centre of town to be part of the event. We stayed at the Bosone Palace, and it was excellent. The room was lovely and it is on the route of the race. A slightly better option could be the Relais Ducale that faces the Piazza della Signoria, because it has balconies that overlook the Piazza. You would have a bird’s eye view of the major proceedings.
Gubbio is a wonderful town to visit any day, but to be there for the Corsa dei Ceri is a very special experience. I can’t wait to go back and do it all again.
I love their colorful costume. The photographs are so bright.
Thanks.
Ranu
By: ranu802 on May 17, 2013
at 8:27 pm
Whoever sells yellow, blue and black shirts must do well.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:36 am
It sounds like a beautiful experience. Not to be missed. Great photos, Debra. You really spoil us. Thank you.
By: mulino dominillo on May 17, 2013
at 8:39 pm
It was a great experience. I will definitely go back and do it again.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:36 am
What a colourful spectacle! It’s lovely that old traditions, such as this, survive.
By: Just Add Attitude on May 17, 2013
at 8:42 pm
This one is incredible! I wonder who thought up all the rules.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:35 am
It is great….and wierd in fact the inhabitants of Gubbio are famous for beeng crazy….if you want become a citizen of Gubbio you have to prove to be crazy and get over a kind of exam which consist in diving a finger in the big well..and run around it with the finger in it…after you will be declared “crazy” and can live in Gubbio…but the Corsa dei ceri is very interesting
By: ilario3155 on May 17, 2013
at 8:43 pm
We loved Gubbio the first time we visited and the festival is amazing. I love the way the whole town embraces it and gets involved.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:34 am
Wow – what a wonderful experience you had. The pictures are so colorful
Where exactly is Gubbio.Debra?
By: Pam Proctor on May 17, 2013
at 9:18 pm
Gubbio is in Umbria, not far from Perugia. It took us about 3 hours to get there from Bagni di Lucca.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:33 am
Those Italian rituals are always fascinating. It’s great to see the passionate communal spirit involved in those religious races. You’ve certainly captured the colour and the conviviality of the whole day! I enjoyed looking through all the pictures and feel “part” of the whole atmosphere of this weird and wonderful Corsa de ceri.
By: Sandra Hoopmann on May 18, 2013
at 12:14 am
The whole town really gets involved with this. The houses are decorated with banners and flowers and everyone dresses in their team colour. It was a lot of fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:30 am
The whole town really gets invovled with the festival. The houses are decorated with banners and flowers and everyone dresses in their team colours. It was a lot of fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:32 am
This brings back wonderful memories for us Debra. Beautiful photos as always, they really capture the spirit. You have done an excellent job researching facts on the event and thanks for sharing tips of where to stay for best viewing if we ever get back there. We joined the hordes scrambling up to the top of the hill/monte, burned off a few calories before tucking into the most delicious white truffle lasagna in the after race feasts. Highly recommend.
By: Michelle on May 18, 2013
at 12:41 am
It was Paul who told me about the race, so thank you for the suggestion. We loved it. Next time we will do the hill bit.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 5:27 am
This has to be one of your best blogs – I really got involved in the race!
By: Francis on May 18, 2013
at 6:22 am
Thank you! It was a great spectacle.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:16 pm
What a spectacle. My iPad doesn’t want to load all the photos but I love the ones I’ve seen!
By: Boutique Travel Blog on May 18, 2013
at 7:56 am
There were a lot of photos, but there was a lot to see.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:16 pm
WOW. What a spectacular event!
By: Jim & Kerry on May 18, 2013
at 7:57 am
You have to go to Gubbio!
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:17 pm
Wonderful article. Beautiful pictures &the history. Thank you. We wil be in Orvieto next week& hope to visit gubbio
By: Doreen novotny on May 18, 2013
at 8:05 am
Gubbio is a fascinating city, even without the Ceri race.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:18 pm
Oh Wos! What a day and what stamina you and the crowds must have to follow. For sheer ebullience and colour it must be an extraordinary performance to witness. I love reading these long posts and feeling like I am watching along with you. Thank you !
By: Joanna on May 18, 2013
at 9:03 am
It is a busy day. Just deciding where will be the next place to see the Ceri is hard work. We lucked onto them a couple of times.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:20 pm
Love your post@ pics. Just right. Feel like we r there with you. Will be in Orvieto next week’ will try to visit gubbio
By: Doreen novotny on May 19, 2013
at 7:34 am
What fun! And the little kids are adorable.
By: Eagle-Eyed Editor on May 18, 2013
at 11:07 am
They looked very cute in their outfits. I particularly liked the little drummer. He was very earnest and practiced quite a lot.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:21 pm
I loved this post Debra! It was fascinating and you got some amazing shots, particularly since there was such a crowd. How interesting that the winner isn’t the one to finish the race first and that it’s about the distance between competitors!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on May 18, 2013
at 11:22 am
There are incredibly complex rules about the whole event. It has obviously developed by consensus over centuries.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:22 pm
WOW …. all those people! Amazing you were able to get as many good pics as you did. Interesting tradition, but even more interesting way of determining the winner.
By: aFrankAngle on May 18, 2013
at 11:59 am
You can imagine the discussion in bars for months afterwards can’t you?
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 12:23 pm
What a spectacular pageant, and you got so many photos which made me feel I was there in the thick of it. Great post, Debra. 🙂
By: adinparadise on May 18, 2013
at 1:13 pm
Thank you, it was an amazing event.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 7:05 pm
What beautiful colourful photos. And the sun was shining too!
By: Andrea Waterhouse on May 18, 2013
at 3:14 pm
The rain held off for the race, but it rained overnight and the next day.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2013
at 7:06 pm
Thanks for sharing this special day with us. What a show!
By: jann on May 18, 2013
at 11:56 pm
Love it Debra. It almost felt like I was there.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on May 19, 2013
at 3:51 am
Amazing post Debra-almostlike being there. Thanks!
By: paninigirl on May 19, 2013
at 3:20 pm
Thank you for this wonderfully descriptive post! Last summer, my family and I spent a couple of days in Gubbio. During our visit to Sant’Ubaldo, my 7-year old son noticed the ceri and asked what they were. We read about the feast but your photos and words really brought it to life. I can’t wait to show them to him! On another note, visiting Lucca (sadly for only a day) for the first time in July before we head to Abruzzo for the summer. Any recommendations for pranzo? We have three young kids so needs to be kid-friendly! Grazie!
By: Majella Home Cooking on May 20, 2013
at 8:31 pm
Most restaurants in Italy are child friendly. In Lucca Da Leo can be fun, especially if the waitress starts singing. Nonna Clara is relaxed and the food is quite good. If you look in the Lucca category there are a few restaurants there. I hope you have a wonderful day in Lucca. Hire some bikes and ride around the wall. The children should love it.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 21, 2013
at 5:00 am
Ubaldo is shot entirely on location in Gubbio and Jessup. The film’s narrative follows the experiences of a tourgroup from Jessup during its visit to Gubbio for the 2006 celebration, including a couple celebrating their 50 th wedding anniversary with their children. The tour arrives in Gubbio after the unveiling of the statues of St. Ubaldo, St. George and St. Anthony in solemn church ceremonies. When fully assembled, each statue is 15 feet high and weighs well over 400 pounds. The races occur over an approximately two-mile course run on the steeply inclined main streets of each town.
By: Ivy Mckay on June 2, 2013
at 2:14 pm
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here: bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/the-wierd-and-wonderful-race-of-the-candles/ […]
By: My Homepage on June 5, 2013
at 6:27 pm
For more information about St. Ubaldo Day, visit stubaldoday.com. For more information about the festival in Gubbio, visit http://www.ceri.it/ceri_eng/index.htm.
By: Stanley B. Morris on June 9, 2013
at 12:14 am
The annual festa dei ceri (aka St. Ubaldo’s Day) takes place in Jessup, PA. It was brought by immigrants from Gubbio, Umbria in Italy during the early 20th century. It happens in only two places in the world: Jessup and Gubbio.
By: Jeannette W. Hull on June 11, 2013
at 10:35 am
We made it to Gubbio at last! Great town. A lot quieter without the festival, but your photos are so fab.
By: maryshoobridge on June 23, 2013
at 7:28 pm
Gubbio is a wonderfully interesting town even without the race. We loved it.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 24, 2013
at 3:16 pm
[…] wonderful blogger brought her post to my attention. For an additional article click HERE at Bagni di Lucca and Beyond. Tons of brilliant […]
By: Daily Italian Doses | La Corsa dei Ceri | Once in a Lifetime Travel on July 19, 2013
at 10:23 pm
[…] a quiet day. Only the market had a bustle of activity. (You should also look at the photos on this blog of the big candle race that occurs in Gubbio each year because evidently there can be a lot of […]
By: Gubbio… | Lois Reynolds Mead's Blog on December 22, 2013
at 12:40 pm
[…] went last year and had a great time. Click here to see the detailed post I wrote about the weird and wonderful race of the […]
By: The race of the candles in Gubbio | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on May 12, 2014
at 7:35 pm
Great article Debra! What a fantastic celebration!
By: Pauline on May 13, 2014
at 9:49 am
Thanks , we had a great time.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2014
at 5:11 pm
Wow you really captured the atmosphere
By: Where's Wiwi? on May 13, 2014
at 8:25 pm
It was an incredible experience.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2014
at 5:08 pm
WHOA-migod! That is so so so wild!!!! I love it! Love the colorful er … color-coded costumes too! What a feast, both literally and in the eyes too. 😀
By: rommel on May 15, 2014
at 2:54 am
It is an incredible event. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 15, 2014
at 3:17 pm
[…] The weird and wonderful race of the candles […]
By: TODAY’S HOLIDAY: Race of the Ceri | euzicasa on May 15, 2014
at 12:39 pm
Excellent account!
By: Francis on August 29, 2015
at 7:53 am
This is an incredible event. I will definitely go to see it again.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 29, 2015
at 9:22 am
[…] wonderful blogger brought her post to my attention. For an additional article click HERE at Bagni di Lucca and Beyond. Tons of brilliant […]
By: Daily Italian Doses | La Corsa dei Ceri | Italy Travel Planner | Consultant | Once In a Lifetime Travel on October 31, 2016
at 4:58 pm
[…] are some spectacular festivals in Italy. We have been to Gubbio for the Corsa dei Ceri, the Race of the Candles. Click the link to Gubbio to see this incredible […]
By: Where to go in 2020? | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 30, 2020
at 8:54 pm