MAGIC4ALL: Flag-Wavers and Musicians of the Seven Districts – Champions of a Tradition that Unites Culture, Sport, and Cooperation

Embedded between Lazio and Umbria in central Italy, Orte is a town of ancient Etruscan roots and later a Roman municipium. Today, it stands as a proud guardian of a rich heritage shaped by identity, community, and traditions that have withstood the passage of time. Among its most captivating customs is that of the Seven Districts—local neighborhoods that continue to enliven the city’s life with vibrant colors, drums, and flags. It is thanks to this cultural legacy that Orte plays a leading role in two major European initiatives: MAGIC and MAGICS4All, coordinated in Italy by ACe20 and supported by the Erasmus+ Sport programme.

A Heritage That Becomes a European Experience

MAGIC (Medieval Activities Grow Inclusive Communities) and its natural evolution MAGICS4All (Medieval Activities Grow Inclusive Cooperation in Sports for All) aim to enhance historical activities rooted in the medieval era, transforming them into tools for inclusion, cooperation, and active participation. Local traditions such as flag-waving and drum music become universal languages—bridging people, generations, and cultures across borders.

In the European context, the Flag-Wavers and Musicians of Orte’s Seven Districts not only bring an ancient performative art to the fore but also embody a contemporary vision of identity and togetherness.

A Group That Embodies Centuries of History

Founded in 1972, the Flag-Wavers of the Seven Districts were established to preserve and pass down medieval customs from the city’s past. Their practices are documented in the 16th-century text La Fabbrica Ortana and the municipal statutes dating back to the 1400s. The figure of the banderaro a flag bearer appears often as early as the 13th century, when flags served as both military communication tools and symbols of civic pride.

Over the centuries, Orte’s Seven Districts each with its own emblem, colors, and identity—have continued to live in the hearts of the locals, with a collective memory renewed annually during the Octave of Saint Egidio festivities.

Since 1975, the group has been affiliated with the Italian Federation of Ancient Sports and Flag Games, participating regularly in national championships. This bond became a cornerstone of Orte’s folkloric movement until 1992, when the Italian Federation of Historical Games was founded. The Medieval Octave Organization immediately joined the new institution and also became a member of the Confédération Européenne des Fêtes et Manifestations Historiques, expanding its cultural exchange network internationally.

With meticulous choreographic and musical precision, Orte’s flag-wavers and musicians breathe life into ancient gestures transforming them into striking visual and auditory performances. Every exhibition becomes a passionate ode to Italian history and tradition through synchronized movement, rhythmic drumming, and graceful flag maneuvers.

powerful performances. Their technical precision, synchronized movements, the insistent rhythm of the drums, and the elegance of their flag routines make each performance a true tribute to history and the beauty of Italian tradition.

A Tradition That Speaks Many Languages

The group’s international journey began in 1972, when they performed in Stockholm to celebrate King Gustaf VI Adolf’s 90th birthday at the inauguration of the Etruscan Museum. Since then, the Flag-Wavers of Orte have toured France, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain, England, Portugal, and even Japan, sharing their culture in some of the world’s most prestigious venues.

Through the MAGIC and MAGICS4All projects, the group has engaged with other European traditions where sport and culture intersect—taking part in international exchanges, workshops, and mobility programmes where the flags of Orte have become symbols of intercultural dialogue and collaboration.

ACe20’s Role: Connecting Regions and Visionaries

Italy’s participation in the projects is led by ACe20 – European Cooperation Company 2020, an organization dedicated to enhancing local heritage through European project planning. Thanks to its ongoing networking efforts, ACe20 has successfully aligned Orte’s historical and cultural wealth with the European Union’s goals for inclusion, education, and active citizenship.

Through MAGIC and later MAGICS4All, ACe20 has enabled fruitful partnerships with teams from Greece, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary, Cyprus, and Malta, promoting the direct involvement of young people from the districts in educational paths centered on non-competitive sports, historical storytelling, and intercultural cooperation.

Tradition with a Forward-Looking Spirit

MAGIC and MAGICS4All are far more than projects they are European laboratories of identity, belonging, and social innovation. Orte shines as a community that transforms its past into shared value. The flourish of a flag, the rhythmic beat of a drum, the fluid coordination of a unified team these are powerful images of a living heritage that continues to thrive through the strength of cultural belief.

Today, thanks to ACe20’s dedication and the talent of the Flag-Wavers and Musicians of the Seven Districts, Orte stands not only as a guardian of its historical roots but also as a model for European engagement, where history, inclusion, and vision come together.