The Palio di Siena ​

The annual horse race in Siena is considered the toughest in Italy! Every year on July 2nd and August 16th, the beautiful “Piazza del Campo” in Siena is transformed into a racecourse and the whole city is filled with excitement.

The “Palio di Siena” has its origins in the Middle Ages, when the “contrade” were founded, military companies that were assigned to individual districts. They took care of the well-being of the population in peaceful times and were also responsible for the organisation of games and competitions.

From the beginning, the Palio served as an outlet for the feelings of the population and to carry out the usual small enmities between the “contrade”. There have always been strict rules for the Palio: of the total of 17 “contrade”, only ten are allowed per race. Seven who were not allowed to participate in the previous year and three who were elected by lot. The selected horses will also be allocated to the participating “contrade” by lot. A few days before the actual race, a rehearsal race takes place on the Campo, which is covered with sand and clay.

On the day of the race, the whole city is in a state of emergency! Everything is decorated with the colours and flags of the districts and in Siena nothing runs any more. In the early morning the riders are blessed in the churches of the respective districts, in the afternoon the horses follow. From 3 p.m. the two-hour procession starts at cathedral square, accompanied by flag-wavers, to “Piazza del Campo”.

At 7:30 pm the excitement of the crowd is at its peak: the dangerous race without a saddle begins! The riders and their horses have to circle the place with the dangerous curve three times. The winner receives the elaborately embroidered standard, the “Palio”, and can decorate his “contrade” with the trophy until the next race.