Our day was spent in the ancient town of Gubbio with our friends, Ian and Eileen, for the indescribable, la Corsa dei Ceri. There is absolutely no way to explain this event with accuracy or to allow a non-observer to fully understand.  The photos will hopefully shed some light on the magnitude of the day.  To see the throngs/masses/mob/crush/swarm and be in the middle of it was quite frightening.  I have never been in such a large group of people in my life, yet it was enthralling and unforgettable.

This is one of the oldest festivals in Italy, dating back to 1160, and it is celebrated on the eve of St. Ubaldo's death.  He was Gubbio's Bishop from 1129 to 1160. The feast is characterized by the traditional Corsa dei Ceri, a race where the Ceraioli carry 3 huge Ceri "candles" (wooden structures made of two octagonal prisms, one on top of the other), weighting more than 900 lbs, with different colors depicting a different Saint (yellow for St. Ubaldo, blue for St. George and black for St. Anthony). The Ceri are carried along the streets to the Basilica at the top of Monte Ingino, where the the body of St. Ubaldo rests today.

To spend the day with "i matti dell'Italia" ("the madmen of Italy, as the Eugubini are called) is exhilarating.  What added to the day was the ride on the "Birdcage"- a funicular that provides a bracing ride to the top of Monte Ingino. It's definitely not for those who suffer from vertigo but a fun way to get to the top, see St. Ubaldo and absorb the views from above this scenic town.  As soon as we jumped into the cage, rain began to fall.  By the time we reached the summit, we were soaked.  The kind woman at the bar gave us all trash bags for some protection and we ended our day a little early, very wet and completely content with our first foray into Ceri Racing!