Siena is a gorgeous little town in Tuscany, Italy which maybe not as well-known as the more famous Florence in the region, but be sure that you will love it. I've only spent a couple of hours on a short stop on my way to Rome a couple of years ago and I was super impressed with this small little city.
A while later I was reading an article about crazy festivals around the world and it draw my attention the festival that Siena holds on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August, called Il Palio di Siena.
Il Palio is a horse race where “ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards.”(Source) "Each one of these neighborhoods has strong family ties and a deep sense of pride, so when they send their horses and jockeys to compete in Palio,the passion is palpable."(Source)
The Palio held on July 2 is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia. The Palio held on August 16 is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary. (Source)
The "[...]second one, on August 16, was added from 1701, though initially the August race was run intermittently rather than every year. The August race [...] which coincided with the Feast of the Assumption was probably introduced 'spontaneously' as part of the feasting and celebration associated with this important festival. The 16th of August was presumably chosen because the other days of the mid-August canonical festival, the 14th and 15th of the month, were already taken up respectively by the Corteo dei Ceri (Procession of the Ceri) and by the census." (Source)
The seventeen contrade
Every year only 10 contrades participate, the remaining 7 will take the start in the race the year to come, while the remaining 3 spots are covered by a draw. Below all the 17 contrades listed with the element that represents them.
Ok, now we know what Il Palio is and when it takes place, but the bigger question is how much does it cost to see it? Well it seems that it depends :)
First of all and most important, you can see it for free from the center of the piazza. Of course then you will face the crowed and the possibility of not seeing much, well I would take the risk :)
Second, there is this website of a guy that offers a great view, avoiding the crowds and a decent price. It says "Palio tickets start from €200 per person, definitely more for the best positions. Palio trial race tickets start from €50 per person" (Source). I found the webiste through one review on trip advsier.
Third,if you have the money then get some €450-500 aside and you can get a place in one of the balconies. One website would be this, you should be able to find some others depending how complete your package you want to be.
and it gets better, if you don't have the time or the chance to go till Siena, Siena and it's Palio are coming to you. This autumn (2015) the release of the movie " Palio" is announced. " This film viscerally transported us into an event and turned life into art." said The Hollywood Reporter, April 23, 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival, where the movie was the award winner.
Below the trailer to enjoy a bit of the passion put into this race.
If you are more of a book reader, there is of course also something for you, Palio is “a compelling tale of Italian community, machismo, bribery and ambition.” said Caroline Daniel, Financial Times. You can find a bit more about it here.
and last but not least the lovely Piazza del Campo in Siena by night :)
Siena, hope I see you soon again!