The event dates back to the time of the Lombards (6th-7th century A.D.), when Count Trasmondo entered Pianella conquering the Vestini territory: horse parades, shows and throughout the night songs and music for "Lu Bbongiorne". On Tuesday the palio delle contrade and, to finish, a medieval banquet.

Before the cathedral the statues of San Giovanni and the Saviour are carried. Saint John repeats the joyous announcement to the statue of the Virgin Mary three times, but she does not believe him. Then the statue of Jesus appears, and the joyous Madonna drops the black mantle and runs through the square.

At 10.30 in piazza Garibaldi all the bells will start ringing and a procession will carry the statue of Jesus across the square. Meanwhile from the ancient church of Santissima Trinità, in the district called "Dentr' la terr", a mourning statue of the Virgin Mother will reach the other end of the main square. After a pause, both statues will start running and meet in the centre, to the sound of band music, and the statues will then proceed together to the sanctuary foor the Easter Mass.

The ancient rite of the blessing of horses will be repeated. Since time immemorial Francavilla has been celebrating St. Antony from Padua on Easter day and Easter Monday. On monday morning horses covered with decorations will be led up to Convento Michetti.

Nazzareno Guarnieri has written a book telling the rom story and wishing for a "new humanism able to defeat social egoism" acknowledging the social and cultural identity of gipsies, who left India about 1000 A.D., and in 1390 are recorded in Penne. First welcomed with curiosity, later on discriminated and persecuted. 500,000 died in the Nazi concentration camps.

From Manuel, born 6 jan 2000, to Emidio, born 1923, 105 Iezzoni family members will celebrate Easter together in Città Sant'Angelo. 18 are coming from Switzerland for the occasion. Ancestors were late Alfonso Iezzoni (born 1901) and his wife Pasqualina Sichetti, who had nine children, 26 grandchildren.