Palio degli Asini 2026 in Cocconato — A Medieval Weekend, and Where to Stay Nearby

A Village Stepping Back Into the 1200s

Cocconato, one of Italy's officially recognised "Borghi più Belli" and a Bandiera Arancione village, spends late September stepping back into the 1200s. The Palio degli Asini re-enacts a local legend: when fire threatened the Radicati castle, villagers used their donkeys to haul water from the valley and save it.

Today the celebration unfolds over two days — a Saturday evening historical procession and medieval banquet in the Cortile del Collegio, followed by Sunday's parade through the old town and the donkey race itself, with seven historic boroughs (Airali, Brina, Colline Magre, Moransengo, San Carlo, Torre and Tuffo) competing for the palio banner between Piazza Melchiorre and Piazza Cavour.

When & Where

When: Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 September 2026 (56th/57th edition; procession from 19:00 Saturday, race at 16:00 Sunday)
Where: Historic centre of Cocconato (AT)

Where to Stay: Bric del Vento, Soglio

Cocconato is one of the closest hilltop villages to Bric del Vento, making it an easy half-day trip from the vineyard.

• Distance to the event: about 10 km from Soglio — around 15 minutes by car
• Spend the afternoon among Cocconato's medieval pageantry and the donkey race, then unwind back at the estate with a glass of Bric del Vento wine and a view over the Monferrato hills
• Close enough to combine with a truffle fair or a Douja d'Or day trip in the same stay, since several of these autumn events sit within a similar radius of Soglio