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PhrasesAt a Local FestivalA che ora inizia la sfilata?
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A che ora inizia la sfilata?

What time does the parade start?

Pronunciation

Sfilata: sfee-LAH-tah. Stress on the second syllable. From sfilare — to march in procession.

When to use it

At any festival with a procession, historical pageant, or costumed parade. Italian festival parades are meticulously organised and locals are very proud of them.

What it means

A che ora means 'at what time'. Inizia is the third-person singular of iniziare — 'to begin'. Sfilata means parade, procession, or catwalk.

Variations

Dove si riuniscono per la sfilata?

Where do they gather for the parade?

Finding the start point of a procession.

La processione passa per qui?

Does the procession pass through here?

Processione — specifically religious procession.

Chi partecipa alla sfilata?

Who takes part in the parade?

Learning about the costumes and characters.

Mini Dialogue

— A che ora inizia la sfilata? — Alle diciassette in punto. Partono dalla piazza del Comune. — Ci sono costumi storici? — Sì! Abiti medievali del Quattrocento. È spettacolare.

— What time does the parade start? — At five o'clock sharp. They leave from the town hall square. — Are there historical costumes? — Yes! Medieval clothes from the fifteenth century. It's spectacular.

Cultural Note

Italy's historical parade tradition (rievocazione storica) is extraordinary. Events like Siena's Palio, Arezzo's Giostra del Saracino, and Asti's Palio involve months of preparation, historically accurate costumes, and fierce neighbourhood rivalry. These are not tourist shows — they are lived community identity.