| Siena’s Palio
is a world famous horse race, held two times each year on July 2nd and
August 16th. There is always a magnificent pageant before the race, and
the Palio has attracted spectators from all over the world. The
horse and rider alike dress in colors and arms of one of seventeen Contrades
or city wards. The Piazza del Campo is filled with dirt and a bareback
horse race highlights the week of trial runs, feasts, parades and ceremony.
This is a tradition that dates back in many forms to 1310 or earlier.
To fully understand the Palio,
you must understand the history behind it. During the 14th century, there
were approximately 42 contrade or wards which helped to provide military
support for Siena’s defense. These were reduced, over the centuries,
until only the current seventeen remain. Each of these wards is named for
a specific animal or object, and each has its own headquarters, social
club, museum, and church. Throughout history, each contrada has been responsible
for its own. You are born into the contrada of your parents, learn your
contrada’s enemies and allies, go to church in your contrada’s church,
marry within your contrada; everything that you do revolves around your
families contrada.
Each year, ten contrade are
chosen to ride in the July 2nd palio. The remaining seven will ride in
the August 16th Palio, along with three of the original July riders. Jockeys
are generally imported from Maremma, Sardegna and Sicily. The true winner
of the race, however, is the horse, whether he retains his rider or not.
Jockeys are sometimes thrown off during the race, but as long as the horse
finishes first, he is still the winner. The main responsibility of the
jockey is to hold on to the horse’s bare back and keep other horses and
riders away with a stiff ox-hide whip. The only rule of the Palio
is that the jockey may not grab the reins of another horse.
The only real danger to spectators
is the possibility of a rider, or even a horse, flying off the racetrack
and landing among the crowd. The grand Palio prize is a painted
banner of the Virgin Mary in the winner’s name. Of course, the real prize
is the honor that you bring to your contrada.
There are no facilities during
the race, so someone with a small bladder may be very uncomfortable. Also,
if you don’t relish the though of standing among thousands of people in
the hot and crowded Campo, this may not be an event for you. Tickets are
available in the grandstands or in many of the buildings around the piazza
and may cost as much as $150. Tickets have also been known to sell out
months in advance. If you are considering viewing this magnificent event,
you can call 0577/280-828 for help in purchasing tickets. If you visit
Siena, and do not have a ticket for the Palio, you can sometimes
view the race behind the Palazzo Pubblico.
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