The Palio delle Barche is a spectacular and complex race, combining skill, physical strength, and team spirit in three distinct phases.

The competition kicks off with an initial stretch in the water on Lake Trasimeno: the boats of the districts tackle a course of approximately 1,000 meters to the old pier. Each boat is manned by a three-person crew, two rowers and a flag bearer, committed to maintaining speed and trajectory in a phase that requires coordination and endurance.

The race then continues on land, in one of its most intense and characteristic moments. Sixty porters from each district take turns carrying the boats on their shoulders, navigating the narrow streets and steep steps of the historic center.

Among the most evocative sections are the steps near the Clock Tower, where the boats are lifted and "thrown" over a wall to continue their journey, offering spectators a unique and adrenaline-filled spectacle.

The third and final phase brings the challenge back into the water: the boats depart from the pier and head towards the Giardini del Pidocchietto beach. Here, the flag bearer dismounts and, in a final, decisive sprint, runs to place his flag in the jug, marking the end of the competition.

Barring any irregularities, the district whose flag bearer first manages to place the flag in the jug is declared the winner, concluding a challenge that embodies all the intensity and charm of tradition.