Overview
- ⏱️15 hoursApproximate duration
The Palio di Siena - known locally simply as Il Palio - is a horse race that is held twice each year, in July and in August, in Siena, Italy.
The races see 10 horses and riders, bareback and dressed in respective colours, representing 10 of the 17 contrade (or city wards). The Palio held in July is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia area of the city. The Palio held in August is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary. The earliest known antecedents of the race are medieval. The Corteo Storico, a pageant to the sound of the March of the Palio, as well as trial races precede the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. Each race truly is a spectacle of sport and culture converging into one epic event!
The race circles the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of earth has been laid. It is run for 3 laps and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is common for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the dangerous turns in the piazza! Il Palio è una guerra... the Palio is war!
Palio di Siena: Palio di Provenzano Tickets
Access to Piazza del Campo is free for everyone. Make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, and something to drink, since once the piazza is closed you can no longer exit. Remember that Piazza del Campo tends to fill up by early evening so don’t arrive after 16:00 if you want to attend the Palio for free! If you’re hoping for more comfortable accommodations, you can pay to watch the Palio from the wooden tribunes or from the houses around the square.
