Palio di Siena
Palio di Siena features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Siena. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Siena Siena guide
About Palio di Siena
Held on 2 July and 16 August since 1633, the Palio is a bareback horse race around Piazza del Campo in which ten of Siena's seventeen contrade (city districts) compete, a ninety-second race that embodies seven centuries of civic identity, rivalry, and passion.
The Palio di Siena is one of the oldest and most dramatic sporting events in the world, a bareback horse race run three times around the Piazza del Campo, preceded by days of elaborate pageantry, flag-throwing displays, historic processions, and fierce inter-district negotiations. Two Palii are run each year: the Palio di Provenzano on 2 July (dedicated to the Madonna of Provenzano) and the Palio dell'Assunta on 16 August (dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin).
Siena is divided into seventeen contrade, city districts, each with its own name, symbol, colours, church, museum, and fountain. Each contrada maintains a fierce identity separate from the others and an often centuries-old rivalry with its neighbours. In each Palio, ten contrade participate: seven that did not run in the corresponding Palio the previous year, plus three drawn by lot. The race itself lasts approximately ninety seconds, three circuits of the Campo, but the pageantry, strategy, alliances, and betrayals that surround it absorb the entire city for weeks before and after.
Did you know? A horse without its rider can win the Palio, if the riderless horse (called a 'scosso') crosses the finish line first with its head-covering (the 'spennacchiera') still attached, the contrada wins. This has happened many times in the race's history.
How long is a visit to Palio di Siena?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for Palio di Siena. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Palio di Siena worth your time?
Palio di Siena is among the 20 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Siena, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Siena
Hear the story of Palio di Siena
Preview the Siena tour free in the Gingerguide app.