The air is heavy with the history of a region older than ancient Rome. The feast of Santa Maria Assunta, the patron saint of the city of Fermo, takes place as the beautiful city on a hill turns to the Renaissance. Everyone joins the heart pounding re-enactment of the Palio dell'Assunta, or "Ride of the Assunta". Hundreds of people parade in lavish, historically accurate costumes to represent each of the ten districts or "Contradas" of the region of Fermo. The somber parade snakes through the cobbled streets of the timeless city. The people carry flags and banners and are accompanied by traditional marching band-style drum lines. The hot solemn procession culminates with the grand Palio dell'Assunta horse race. A small version of its much more famous cousin, the hugely attended Palio de Sienna. Fermo's streets are paved with dirt and each of the ten "Contradas of the the Region of Fermo are represented by one horse and one jockey. This tradition has been going on annually since 1182.
