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Palio Di Siena: Inside the Medieval City’s Most Important Event

Asia London Palomba | PUBLISHED: July 2, 2023

Asia London Palomba
July 2, 2023

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Taking place in the stunning Medieval hilltop town of Siena, located in the region of Tuscany, the Palio has been the city’s most important event for more than five centuries. Taking place on July 2 and August 16, it is a high-adrenaline horse race in which jockeys, dressed in colorful clothes representing the city’s neighborhoods, ride bareback in a frenzy to win the coveted Palio banner. The entire spectacle, in which jockeys circle the city's main piazza three times, only lasts for 90 seconds, and oftentimes results in riders being thrown from their horses’ backs. And yes, sometimes horses can win the Palio without their rider. 

The Palio takes place on July 2 to honor the Madonna of Provenzano, and on August 16 to honor the Virgin Mary’s Assumption. The city's main square and location for the Palio, Piazza del Campo, is prepared for the race by being covered with tuff clay. 

Horses of contrade Pantera (RIder: Trecciolino), Valdimontone (Rider: Scompiglio), Bruco (Rider Gingillo), Civetta (Rider: Brio), Drago (Rider: Girolamo) and Tartuca (Rider: Carburo) approaching at the dangerous corner of San Martino in "Piazza del Campo" during Palio di Siena of July 2011.

Siena is divided into 17 neighborhoods, also known as contrade, of which 10 are selected by a drawing to participate in the Palio. Historically, each contrada are rivals. It is believed that the contradas are the descendants of various ancient Sienese military companies.

The rivalry and hostility of the contrade may date back to ancient border disputes. Each contrada represents a specific color, flag, and mascot, be it a porcupine or unicorn, that are worn and flown all year round. Each competing contrada’s horse is chosen by a lottery. Once chosen, the horse is showered with love, with the contrada washing, grooming, and housing it in an upscale, five-star stable. On race day, bets are placed on which contrada will win, and the competing horses are taken to their contrada’s church to be blessed by a priest. It is considered a sign of good luck if the horse leaves its dropping within the church.

Take a look below at this year’s Palio schedule:

First Palio of Siena

Start: June, 27, 2023

  • Presentation of the horses that will participate in the lottery to be randomly selected to run in the Palio

End: July 2, 2023

  • Race Day

Second Palio of Siena

Start: August 13, 2023

  • Presentation of the horses that will participate in the lottery to be randomly selected to run in the Palio

End: August 16, 2023

  • Race Day

Asia London Palomba

Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.

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Asia London Palomba

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