Ducato di Piazza Pontida

Mezza Quaresima Festival 2026 in Bergamo: a historic celebration with masks, allegorical floats, music and popular tradition on 14–15 March.
Folkloric event

Mezza Quaresima Festival 2026

March 14, 2026Bergamo

The Mezza Quaresima Festival will once again bring the city to life on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March, renewing a tradition that continues to be a symbol of identity, belonging and shared celebration.

Free

Giopì Magazine

Giopì Magazine

The official online magazine of the Ducato di Piazza Pontida – discover and read all the articles on giopi.net

Culture and Traditions

Bergamasque Online Dictionary

The Bergamasque/Italian and Italian/Bergamasque Online Dictionary is a tool that will guide you in discovering the beauty and tradition of our Bergamasque culture.

Browse the dictionary by letter and explore the richness of our Bergamasque language and the words proudly preserved in this vocabulary, freely accessible to everyone.

From Our Store

Discover exclusive products in our store inspired by Bergamasque tradition and culture. Visit our store here.
120 Years of History

"Long live the Ducato di Piazza Pontida!"

The Ducato di Piazza Pontida, an association of traditions, culture, art, and folklore, was founded thanks to the imaginative creativity of a well-known figure in the city during the early decades of the last century: Rodolfo Paris, a music lover, pianist, poet, and composer of verses in Bergamasque.

Our Duke

Smiciatöt - XI Duke of Piazza Pontida

"The eleventh Duke in the history of the Ducato is our Mario Morotti, former treasurer of the Ducato. He will be called «Smiciatöt Ü'», a name inspired by the history of the association and the life of Giacinto Gambirasio, Ducal poet and one of the most respected editors of the periodical Giopì, who signed his works as «Gambì Smiciatöt». The nickname does not mean ‘curious,’ but rather a careful observer of Bergamasque social life and, consequently, a constructive critic.

The Duke of Piazza Pontida together with the Mayor of Bergamo, Giorgio Gori
Support the Ducato

Become a Partner of the Ducato di Piazza Pontida

If you are a company from the Bergamo area and believe in the traditional and cultural values of our land, become a partner of the Ducato and support our association to continue organizing events and cultural activities aimed at preserving and promoting our Bergamasque tradition.