Il Palio, or The Palio di Siena, is a traditional twice annual horse race held in Siena, Italy. The first takes place on the 2nd of July which is both the Feast of the Visitation and a local festival which honours the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion in the city. This race is called the Palio di Provenzano. The second is on the 16th of August, the day after the Feast of the Assumption, and is called the Palio dell'Assunta. Ten competitors take part in each race, riding bareback and representing one of the seventeen city wards or contrade, in the Piazza del Campo.
The race itself is a quick-fire event, only taking around ninety seconds, while the celebrations in the winning contrada last a whole month. Find a luxury villa in Siena and experience the thrilling event for yourself.
Shortly before the race begins, an explosive sounds in the city, letting the occupants know that it is about to begin. The streets and piazza are flooded with people from all over the world for the race from early that morning, the best seats selling out months prior. The buildings surrounding have yet more people gathered to watch. A pageant, the Corteo Storico, is held before the race starts in which local policemen on horseback brandish swords and demonstrate mounting a charge.
Shortly before the race begins, an explosive sounds in the city, letting the occupants know that it is about to begin. The streets and piazza are flooded with people from all over the world for the race from early that morning, the best seats selling out months prior. The buildings surrounding have yet more people gathered to watch. A pageant, the Corteo Storico, is held before the race starts in which local policemen on horseback brandish swords and demonstrate mounting a charge.
The speed at which the event takes place and plays out, as well as the inherent tension and dangers involved for the jockeys, excite the crowds. The track is steep and treacherous, being made only shortly before the race begins and of dirt and turf which is laid around the perimeter of the piazza.
Jockeys use whips to encourage their own horses but are also allowed to use them to distract other horses and jockeys. The riders are even allowed to push or pull at each other or to hamper the horses at the beginning of the race. As they ride bareback, jockeys often are unseated but their horses can still win, even without them.
Rivalry between the various contrade also contributes to the energetic atmosphere as it heightens the need to win. The loser is not the team that comes last but, rather, second and the winner is presented with a silk painted banner, or palio, made by hand by a different artist for each race. Quite unlike anything you're likely to have seen before, it's a must for anyone thinking of visiting Tuscany this summer who is looking to get their heart racing!
Jockeys use whips to encourage their own horses but are also allowed to use them to distract other horses and jockeys. The riders are even allowed to push or pull at each other or to hamper the horses at the beginning of the race. As they ride bareback, jockeys often are unseated but their horses can still win, even without them.
Rivalry between the various contrade also contributes to the energetic atmosphere as it heightens the need to win. The loser is not the team that comes last but, rather, second and the winner is presented with a silk painted banner, or palio, made by hand by a different artist for each race. Quite unlike anything you're likely to have seen before, it's a must for anyone thinking of visiting Tuscany this summer who is looking to get their heart racing!
Photo credits
picture 1: Roberto Vicario / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Wpopp / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: William Domenichini / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Roberto Vicario / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Wpopp / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: William Domenichini / CC BY-SA 3.0