Palio di Siena: What to Know About Tuscany's Horse Race

One of Tuscany's most anticipated summer events is the Palio di Siena. The most famous horse race in Italy is held twice a year in Piazza del Campo, Siena's main medieval, shell-shaped square. For centuries, the Palio has been a competition between the city's districts, known as contrade. This historic tradition dates back to 1633, and Siena celebrates it every year with the passion of its past.

When does the Palio take place?

The Palio della Madonna di Provenzano takes place on 2 July, while the Palio dell'Assunta takes place on 16 August. The first day is dedicated to the tratta, the drawing of lots that assigns the horses to each contrada.

Before the official race, the city hosts six trial runs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but jockeys try to avoid overworking their horses. Both races begin with a historic procession and end with open-air dinners in each contrada.

But that's not all: on the day of the Palio, the city holds a Messa del Fantino (Mass for the Jockeys) in the chapel next to the Palazzo Comunale.

In the morning the "segnatura dei fantini", the announcement of the jockeys' names, takes place in the Palazzo Comunale; early in the afternoon the horses are blessed, followed by the historic parade in Piazza del Campo.

The Palio prize

The Palio prize is the Drappellone, or large drape, also called Cencio: a large painted silk canvas designed and created by a different artist each year. During the district celebrations, the winning contrada displays the canvas in its museum. The Aquila contrada has the oldest existing Palio, which dates from 1719.

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