Rioni

History and Tradition

Since 1966, the Sbandieratori dei Rioni have been one of the most prestigious Italian folklore groups, specializing in flag shows, acrobatics, and parades around the world. Founding member of CIOFF Italy and the Italian Federation of Flag Throwers. Our motto: simply the best.

Biography of the Art of the Flag

The Sbandieratori dei Rioni di Cori are one of the oldest and most prestigious folkloric groups in Italy, combining choreography, flags, and music. Their art began informally in the 2nd century AD. They originate from a small and wonderful town with a medieval fabric and pre-Roman origins, where their adventure began in 1966.

The performances of the Sbandieratori dei Rioni are a unique combination of:

  • Flag throwing
  • Drum marches
  • Melodies of Renaissance trumpets

These performances take place in squares, parades, or breathtaking acrobatic shows, both in theaters and on the streets. The flags of the Rioni, protected by the National Museum of Folklore (formerly Pigorini), are unique pieces of beech wood, dried for over 20 years, shaped and personalized by each artist, dressed with drapes hand-sewn by traditional local seamstresses.

The Sbandieratori represent the colors of Rome and the districts of the city of Cori. They are also founding members of CIOFF Italy (1987) and the Italian Federation of Flag Throwers (1966), which currently brings together over 100 flag-throwing groups in Italy. They have participated in over 1500 events and over 200 global events, including:

  • Olympic Games
  • EXPO
  • UN events

The street artists of the Sbandieratori dei Rioni can juggle flags to the rhythm of live Renaissance music, wearing authentic costumes reconstructed from Renaissance models, based on the ancient writings of Vittorio Alfieri.

The association Sbandieratori dei Rioni di Cori is committed at the Italian level in the board of the Italian Federation of Flag Throwers, which includes more than 100 groups. Furthermore, their extraordinary role in folklore is linked to the creation of the CIOFF section, thanks to the founder of the Rioni, Prof. Giovanni Pistilli, the first CIOFF president in Italy.

Until 2006, for 34 years, the Sbandieratori dei Rioni coordinated and organized one of the largest folklore festivals in Europe, called the Festival della Collina.

History of Flag Throwing

The art of flag throwing evolved from the second century AD and was regulated during the Middle Ages to guide armies. Flag throwers were considered a mix of diplomats, captains, political figures, polyglots, and soldiers. The work of a flag thrower was an option for the sons of many noble families.

The firstborn inherited all properties and power, while the second-born could become priests or captains. If they chose a military career, they underwent rigorous training in languages, fighting techniques, and the use of war instruments. Among the various arts to be learned was the art of handling the insignia, i.e., flag throwing.

During battles, the captain with the insignia guided the movement of the armies through the movement of the flag. The flag throwers, very dynamic figures, could decide the fate of the battle or act as figures of peace and diplomacy. The flag was the heart of an army’s action, and if the flag bearer was killed or his flag was stolen, his army was destined to defeat.

During and after the Renaissance, the importance of flag throwers in battles began to decline. However, the art of flag throwing remained an obligation in the majority of noble families. Vittorio Alfieri codified all the movements in a book, “La Bandiera”, a milestone for the contemporary foundation of flag folklore.

The School of Flag Throwing

The art of flag throwing is now part of the intangible cultural heritage in several countries including:

  • Italy
  • Spain
  • France
  • Netherlands
  • Belgium
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • Czech Republic
  • Austria
  • Poland

The flag-throwing school is divided into two styles:

  1. Florentine School

    • Flags 1.60m high
    • Synthetic fabric drape
    • Titanium pole
    • Influences the majority of groups in Europe

  2. Corese School

    • Flags with wooden poles, taller (1.80m)
    • Wider drapes
    • Movements similar to those illustrated by Alfieri in his Renaissance book

Flags of the Florentine style are those accepted for national flag-throwing competitions in Italy, while those of the Corese style maintain a tradition closer to ancient writings.

The Flags: Unique Pieces Completely Hand-Made

The drapes of the flags of the Sbandieratori dei Rioni di Cori are hand-sewn by traditional local seamstresses and painted by the group’s young volunteers through dedicated painting workshops. The flagpoles are made of oak wood seasoned for twenty years and then decorated/carved by hand by the same group members. Precisely for this uniqueness – no other group in the world presents this characteristic – a group flag is preserved by the Museum of Folklore in Rome.

The group has four types of flags:

  • The ambassador’s flag (4-meter drape)
  • The captain’s flag (whose symbol is linked to the local faith of the Madonna del Soccorso)
  • The flag thrower’s flag
  • The small flag for the younger members

Music: Ancient Symphonies Transformed into Marches

The folkloric ensemble of the Rioni has within it a Renaissance music school where young people can learn to play natural drums and Renaissance trumpets (those without any valves). The marches are based on readings of historical documents preserved over the centuries. At the moment, twenty compositions have been discovered and adapted to contemporary sensibility.

When performing, the group normally shows a flag bearer, a captain, four trumpeters, four drummers, and twelve flag throwers. However, this formation can be easily changed. The characteristic of the group is its extreme flexibility, being able to perform on stages, squares, or streets, both indoors and outdoors. The show consists of spectacular Renaissance choreographies of flag throwers to the rhythm of drum rolls and trumpet calls.

Our Choreographic Specialty: Acrobatics

The group is world-renowned for its acrobatic body choreography – a fully trained artistic gymnastics team that has achieved a breathtaking show. From childhood, they are trained to combine artistic gymnastics with flag throwing, creating an extraordinary combination of the best features of street artists and folklore interpretation.

The Rioni Renaissance Ensemble also features a spectacle with swords, based on texts from the 16th/17th century. Finally, the group has a specific internal section related to the research and study of historical documents.

Performance Technical Features

  • Minimum performing ensemble: 8 artists, divided into 2 trumpeters, 2 drummers, and 4 flag throwers.
  • Duration: a performance can last from 10 to 50 minutes. It can be repeated and adapted to any request.
  • Space: theaters, streets, squares, shopping centers, etc. Indoor/outdoor, on or off stage. 5m x 10m. Performances are very flexible.
  • Type of show: solo, duets, acrobatic choreography, sword choreography, traditional choreography (one-flag and two-flag juggling)
  • Minimum height: 4.5 meters.
  • Acoustic requirements: on stage, in large settings, aerial microphones are welcome. In all other occasions, no equipment is needed.
  • Possible problems: strong wind, lack of lights, rain.