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THE
PALIO OF SIENA
The
palio has become the symbol of Siena. The strong competition
which divides the Cities in 17 "contrade" (town districts)
marks its identity, signed by the hostility as in all other
parts of Tuscany. The only difference is that the traditional
division in factions has created one of the most marvellous
events in Italy.
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 The
Palio is celebrated in Piazza del Campo, the 2nd
of July and the 16th of August every year, when
the contrade contend the coloured cloth , called "cencio".
It seems that the oldest Palio is the one held the 2nd of
July, dates from the 17th century. The first Palio in August
was celebrated in 1701. The historical parade and the horse
race are just the final events of a long and accurate preparation
which starts with the draw to decide which town districts
to participate. The so-called "tratta", three days
before the race, is also very important, as it assigns a horse
to each "contrada". After the assignment, the horse
is taken to the "contrada" where the members of
the "contrada" led by the "barbaresco",
the official caretaker of the animal, look after the horse.
On the Palio day, the Sunto, the big bell of the Torre del
Mangia, rings at 8am. It is followed by mess for the jockeys
and the suggestive and emotional blessing of the horses in
the churches of the "contrade", according to the
traditional formula "Go and come back as a winner".
Then it is time for the horse race. The jockeys, who ride
bare-back, tear three times around the racetrack at an infernal
speed, but the horse is the focus of the event as it is eligible
to win even without its jockey.
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