Palio di Siena horse race, Italy
Standing here, you can imagine the thundering of hooves and the roaring of the spectators. The energy must be incredible, thousands of people crammed together in the centre of the square as the horses race around them. Encircled and squashed, there would be nothing to do but shout with the crowd.
Twice a year, here in Siena’s Piazza del Campo, one of the world’s most famous horses races takes over the city. The Palio di Siena is no ordinary race… but more on that shortly.
Today, things are much more sedate. It’s a warm and sunny spring afternoon and the piazza is full of people sitting on the ground, catching some rays, eating a snack or talking with their friends. The shadow of the tower from the imposing Palazzo Pubblico casts a shadow over the ground and moves like a sundial. The people who end up in its darkness shuffle back into the light… the whole process continues slowly as the shadow marks the passage of the day.
On the days of the Palio di Siena (or Il Palio as it’s generally known) there is no such calm. Nor is there room to sit on the ground. The outside of the piazza becomes a racetrack and is covered wit turf. The inside becomes the main spectator area and thousands of people are squeezed in and then locked into the area just before the race starts.
Ten horses compete. I say ‘horses’ rather than ‘jockeys’ because the rules clearly state it’s the first horse across the line that wins, regardless of whether the rider is still attached. The race is run bareback and, with some tough corners, the jockey doesn’t always make it to the end. It’s also a rough race where the riders are allowed to use their whips on the other competitors, so that doesn’t help their chances.
One of the reasons Il Palio is so rough is tradition. The race was first run in 1656. In that day – and still to this day, as a matter of fact – it is a competition between the different districts of Siena. Much like any football league around the world, the crowd is often just as happy if their archrivals don’t win than if they do themselves. There are apparently even some dirty tactics that go on sometimes, with two or more districts secretly agreeing to gang up on another.
Historic centre of Siena
You wouldn’t know there was such a simmering hostility beneath the surface from walking around the city. The historic centre of Siena is as beautiful and charming as I’ve come to expect from the old cities of Tuscany. For instance, the Duomo, with a similar Tuscan Gothic style as the one in Florence, is considered one of the finest in the whole country. The streets of the old city are full of pedestrians (most tourists) and mainly without cars in the historic parts.
It’s one of those places that is a pleasure to walk around, to peek into the stores selling crafts, stop for a coffee in one of the bars or sit for a while in the squares and watch life go by.
I can imagine what Siena is like when the Il Palio roadshow comes to town. I’m sure it’s a lot of fun. I do like city like this, though.
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here.
You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.
**More things to do in Tuscany**
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Turtle, like the name suggests, likes to take things slowly. Luckily that's one of the best ways to see the world - and that's exactly what he's doing at the moment.
This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.
18 Responses
Nice photos! Best for summer vacation! It looks like a religious place?
Yes, I think it would be best in summertime.
Glorious photos, Michael! I’ve been in Siena twice and love the city very much. I like best of all your panoramas of Siena. I’d like to visit the Paio, some day.
Yeah, it’s a beautiful city. One day perhaps we should meet there for the race – I think it happens in July and August each year.
Great photos. Love to see the race. Little guys whipping their horses and each other sounds like a free for all.
The Travel Fool recently posted..Road Trip to Lake Ohrid
I know, right? I love that because there is such rivalry between the districts, they let it be such a free-for-all because everyone wants to see the other guy come off his horse!
Siena and actually Tuscany in general is pretty high on my Italy list. Though that list is also pretty long. I definitely know that I would avoid the time of the horse race though. We did Tomatina last year and Carnivale this February and I am really done with crowded places. Beautiful town though.
Did you go after TBU?
Andrew recently posted..A Day in Colmar
Yeah, I’ve spent quite a while in Italy now. Siena was beautiful but I can’t imagine it would have the same charm with all the crowds there…
I love Siena and all of Tuscany for that matte and I’ve ALWAYS wanted to catch the Palio…hopefully one of these days
Eric @ Trans-Americas Journey recently posted..Producing Puros – Plasencia Cigar Factory, Danlí, Honduras
I think it would be quite a sight! I wonder if someone could hook us up with some good balcon seats
I learned about the Palio while in Florence a few years ago, and my friend was at the same time spending a month in Siena. I was sad to learn we were heading to Rome before the Palio. My friend said though, for a young Canadian girl in Siena during the Palio…it was actually kind of scary what with the crowds, the intense rivalries, and the young Italian men looking for summer flings. I think it was quite the experience, but one she recommends witnessing from a balcony instead of down in the crowds (though apparently, these are ridiculously expensive to get a hold of during the race).
I loved the comparatively quiet day I spent in Siena though. A lovely town.
Wandergirl recently posted..Top Eats of 2011
That doesn’t surprise me at all. I guess it’s like any big event with crowds (Carnivale, etc) – you’re always going to have a bit of trouble with that many people in that kind of situation.
I’ve heard about this race! It has always struck me as something well worth seeing.
AlexBerger recently posted..A Video Tour of Cappadocia’s Mesmerizing Rock Formations In The Snow
Let’s try to lock it in one time. But maybe with a nice balcony seat…
I love festivals, races, and events in a foriegn city/country. They totally add to the experience and make the overall culture more evident. I always try to plan our travel clubs trips during festivals and events like this! I’ll have to add Siena to the bucket list!
Yeah, definitely add it! Just be prepared for the crowds…
Siena is one of my favorite towns in Tuscany. I love it’s narrow pathways and small town feel even though it has a major university. I have to give props to Rick Steves for turning me onto this little gem so many years ago. One day, I would love to go back to see the horse race.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Iberian Lynx
It’s definitely getting the tourist crowds now, probably thanks to people like Rick Steves showing everyone how great it is. But it’s still a pleasure to explore the place.