Trionfo (Italian:[triˈoɱfo]) is anItalian word meaning "triumph", also "triumphal procession", and atriumphal car orfloat in such a procession. The classical triumphal procession for victorious generals and Emperors known as theRoman Triumph was revived for"Entries" by rulers and similar occasions from the EarlyRenaissance in 14th and 15th-century Italy, and was a major type offestival, celebrated with great extravagance. The cars are shown as open-roofed, many clearly utilitarian four-wheeled carts dressed-up for the occasion. Others were two-wheeled chariots. In art, they might be pulled by all sorts of exotic animals.

Another specialized sense of the word was an elaboratesugar sculpture; these decorated tables on important occasions in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, especially in Italy and France. Eventually they were replaced by the silversurtout de table orporcelain centrepieces.^[1]

The word may derive from a call of triumph during antique triumphal processions: "Io triumpe".

Triumphs were described in literature, the cars often carrying classical gods orpersonified virtues, withPetrach'sTriomphi (1374) being extremely influential, for example onHypnerotomachia Poliphili (1499). This hadwoodcut illustrations, and such scenes were very popular in art, perhaps culminating in the enormous woodcutLarge Triumphal Carriage byAlbrecht Dürer (1522), a triumphal car carrying theEmperor Maximilian that is the climax of theTriumphs of Maximilian (several artists). TheTriumphs of Caesar byAndrea Mantegna (by 1492) were also very influential.

The Italian sculptorGiuseppe Cassioli named hisOlympic medal designTrionfo. First used in 1928, the design was used forSummer Olympic Games until it was replaced at the 2004 Olympic Games.

• 
  Relief on theCastel Nuovo, Naples, 1470. It shows the entry ofAlfonso V of Aragon after taking the city.
• 
  Allegories on the back of thedouble portrait of Battista Sforza and Federico Montefeltro, byPiero della Francesca, c. 1465-1472. Horses pull Federico’s car and Battista’s is pulled by unicorns.^[2]
• 
  Triumph ofJehoshaphat,Jean Fouquet, 1470–75.
• 
  Julius Caesar in his truiumphal car, in one of the nine scenes of theTriumphs of Caesar byAndrea Mantegna (by 1492)
• 
  Woodcut illustration toHypnerotomachia Poliphili, withcentaurs pulling the car, 1499.
• 
  Leopards pullBacchus's car inTitian'sBacchus and Ariadne (1523)
• 
  TheTrionfo design ofGiuseppe Cassioli on a 1960Olympic medal

• Strong, Roy,Feast: A History of Grand Eating, 2002, Jonathan Cape,ISBN 0224061380

• Material to triumphal processions

• Cultural history of Italy
• Festivals in Italy
• European court festivities

• Pages with Italian IPA