The history of ciaramicola of Perugia

The ciaramicola of Perugia has always been the typical Easter cake and, in ancient times, it was offered by women to their future husbands. In Gubbio, on the other hand, it is a cake associated to the celebration of Saint Ubaldo, the patron Saint of the city celebrated on the 15 May, to recall the act of devotion of the citizens to the Bishop Saint Ubaldo Baldassini after his death in 1160.
However, according to the tradition, ciaramicola is a cake typical from Perugia: the round shape with a central cross represents the shape of the city the cross at the centre, hence the Church. The red colour of the cake, given by the Alchermes liqueur, and the white of the meringue decoration on top represent the colours of Perugia, while the coloured sprinkles represent its five districts. Red like the district of Porta S. Angelo – said Emanuela C., one of the most well-known pastry chefs of Perugia – through whose door gate came the wood for the fires. White like the district of Porta Sole, where the star reflected among the marble and the travertine of Terra Vecchia. Blue like the district of Porta Susanna, whose door leads to the blue of the Perugian lake along the Via Trasimena (Trasimena road). Green like the district of Porta Eburnea stretching towards forests and vineyards that filled the overlooking valley. Yellow – she concluded – like the district of Porta S. Pietro through whose entrance door came the yellow wheat, main food on every table.