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Palio di Siena
Siena, July 2nd and August 16th
Background
The colourful Palio di Siena event takes place twice annually on July 2nd and August 16th. Palio di Siena is a horse race with seventeen riders and horses representing the city’s corresponding Contrade (districts). The race is believed to date back to medieval times, with participants even dressing in special medieval inspired costumes of tights heavy leather and chain mail suits and colourful caps. ‘Barbaresco’ riders compete for the prize of a hand painted silk banner amidst traditional medieval fanfare and pageantry. The jockeys must complete three laps of the circuit at break-neck speed to be in with a chance of winning.
The Venue
The medieval city of Siena dates back to the 9th century and many of its ancient ramparts remain perfectly preserved to this day. The Palio di Siena event takes place on Campo Square, which undergoes four days of intense preparation before being transformed into a racetrack. The square is semi-circular in shape, meaning it’s ideal for a racing track. On each occasion before the big day, a layer of soft sandy soil is spread and cushioning is put in place along the dangerous bend at San Martino to protect jockeys from sustaining serious injuries.
Seats are arranged all along the track in a tiered fashion, making room for 33,000 visitors. The centre of the square accommodates up to 28,000 people standing, while thousands of other spectators clamber on top of roof terraces and balconies to get a better view.
Getting There
Siena is reached within an hour’s drive of Florence and is signposted on all major route ways. If travelling from Rome and southern Italy, follow highway A1 and exit at Valdichiana/Bettolle. From here take the Statale 73 to Siena. If driving from Milan or Bologna, you will reach Siena by exiting the A1 at Firenze Certosa and following the Superstrada Firenze-Siena. If driving from Venice or the northeast, follow the A13 Padova-Bologna and then A1 to Firenze Certosa. Siena can be reached from Genoa, Pisa or Lucca by travelling along the A11 Pisa Firenze, leaving the A1 in the direction of Rome and then turning for Firenze-Siena at Firenze Certosa.5000 LOCATIONS DETAILS
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