The Palio of Siena with its exciting horse race is one among the foremost well-liked and well-known historic festivals in Italy. the competition to win the palio of Siena may be a horse race run in Siena’s fan-shaped main sq., Piazza del Campo or Il Campo.
Siena is split into seventeen neighborhoods, or contrade, every with a rider. 10 contrade participate within the initial race, July 2, chosen by a draw twenty days before the race. the opposite seven and 3 from the July race compete August sixteen. Horses are assigned to the riders by a draw 3 days before the race. There are alternative events round the days of the palio, too, beginning June twenty nine and August thirteen.
Palio Race
Race day starts with a special mass, trial runs by the jockeys, and blessing of the horses. within the afternoon beginning around 3pm there’s a procession through the historic center of Siena with costumed participants from every contrada and performances by flag throwers. The historic parade ends at Piazza del Campo.
Before the race the beginning line-up is set by lottery and horses are lined up behind a rope, the standard beginning gate. The race is regarding a thousand meters total, with horses circling the track 3 times, taking but 2 minutes. The contrada of the winning horse is awarded the palio, or victory flag. Winning the palio may be a huge honor and therefore the race is very competitive.
Enjoy these Siena Palio photos taken at the palio race in July, 2005, by photographers Joe Bauwens and Marybeth Flower.
Siena Visitor info
See our Siena Travel Guide for a lot of regarding visiting the Tuscany hill city of Siena and check our Tuscany Transportation Map for Siena’s location and the way to urge to Siena on public transportation.
How to See the Siena Palio
The palio races are terribly crowded – you would possibly be able to snag a standing place (there’s standing area for regarding twenty eight,000), however reserved seats (33,000) are sometimes sold out beforehand. you’ll watch the flag twirling from many places in town; one among the most effective however most crowded places is by the Duomo.