Overview
On 16 August, the long-awaited Palio di Siena dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin returns. The Palio, a horse race between the city's Contrade (districts), is one of the most celebrated events in Italy and famous throughout the world. Contrade and the Palio have very ancient origins, earliest documents mentioning Contrade date to the early 1200s. In the early days, Contrade as we know them today did not participate in the Palio, and the first actual names did not appear until the late 1400s, until they all appeared in 1546. Since ancient times, horse races were frequent in the city streets, but the first Palio run by the Contrade in the Piazza with horses was documented in 1633. The Contrade, and the territories to which they belonged, were crystallised in 1729 with the proclamation of Princess Violante Beatrice of Bavaria, Governor of Siena, and still today distinguished by heraldic coats of arms visible along the streets of the historic centre.
Four days of festivities are planned during which certain rituals that have remained identical over the centuries will begin: the blessing of the horses, the drawing of lots, dress rehearsals and dinners. The Palio is always preceded by a historical procession with people in period costumes, with drums, standard bearers and jockeys, commemorating the glory of the Republic of Siena.
You can to watch the Palio (and the rehearsals on the three previous days) free of charge from inside Piazza del Campo, where you must enter before the entrances are closed.
A more convenient option, at a price, is to watch it from the boxes surrounding the square or from the windows or balconies of the buildings.
There is no centralised ticket office, you must contact the managers of the individual boxes (palcaioli) or owners of the flats facing the Piazza.
You can to watch the Palio (and the rehearsals on the three previous days) free of charge from inside Piazza del Campo, where you must enter before the entrances are closed.
A more convenient option, at a price, is to watch it from the boxes surrounding the square or from the windows or balconies of the buildings.
There is no centralised ticket office, you must contact the managers of the individual boxes (palcaioli) or owners of the flats facing the Piazza.
53100 Siena, Province of Siena, Italy
