Il Palio di Sena

The Palio is a Sienese tradition that dates back over seven hundred years. It is a four-day celebration which culminates in a bare back horse race around the historical piazza, the Campo, on the 2nd of July and 16th of August of every year. The passion and rivalry of the cities Contrada’s is much more intense than any football rivalries and is a privilege to witness. Click here to see my Palio Diaries

The August 2006 Palio di Siena.

The race being led by the winning jockey Alberto Ricceri (Salasso) on his mount, Caro Amico representing Contrada della Selva.

The City of Siena.

A panoramic view of the city at golden hour.

The Trials.

A jockey taking part in the medical trial to evaluate the suitability of the horses shortlisted.

The Contrada.

A Contrada member engaging with the camera and the photographer.

Nobile Contrada della Orca.

A flag bearer for the Nobile Contrada dell' Orca

The Trumpeter and the Superintendent.

A municipal trumpeter and Superintendent at the Municipal building in the Campo on the dray of the draw.

The Page Boy.

A Municipal Page Boy outside the Municipal Building in the Camp on the day of the draw.

Trecciolino - Contrada della Tartuca.

The jockey for the Contrada della Tartuca, ‘Trecciolino’ (Luigi Bruschelli) waiting to find out the horse he will be riding in the Palio.

The Contrada.

Members of a Contrada leaving the Campo chanting.

Contrada Officials.

Senior members of the Contrada della Selva leaving the Campo.

The Barbary and the Groom.

The groom of the Nobil Contrada del Bruno leading their assigned horse, Fujan de Ozieri, from the Campo.

The Draw.

The official announcement boards for the August 2006 Palio di Siena.

VIP'S.

Senior officials from the Municipal Authorities walk the track before the trials.

Selva - Caro Amico and Salasso.

The winner of the August 2006 Palio, Caro Amico, ridden by ‘Salasso’ (Alberto Ricceri).

Young Fans.

Young Contrada members watching the trials.

Pantera and Valdimontone in the trials.

Jockeys for Contrada della Pantera and Contrada Valdimontone riding in the trials. ‘Brio’ (Andrea Mari) riding Choci for Pantera and ‘Lo Zedde’ (Virginio Zedde) riding Dostoevskij for Valdimontone.

Salasso and Contrada della selva.

Winning jockey, Salasso, with senior figures from the Contrada della Selva leaving the Campo after the draw.

The Candle Procession

Young members of the Imperiale Contrada della Giraffa taking part in the Candle Procession.

Contrada Della Torre at the Candle procession

A young member of the Contrada Della Torre taking part in the Candle Procession.

A Family Occasion.

Mothers and babies of the Contrada della Torra participating in the Candle Procession.

Contrada Capitana dell'Onda

A young member of the Contrada Capitana dell'Onda at the Candle Procession.

Contrada del Drago.

A flag bearer for the Contrada del Drago.

Contrada della Selva

A flag bearer for the Contrada della Selva.

Contrada Capitana dell'Onda

A flag bearer for the Contrada Capitana dell'Onda.

The August 2006 Palio Banner

The August 2006 Palio Banner being revealed in the city.

The Cow Herder.

One of the traditional cow herders who have the responsibility of herding the cattle that pull the Caroccio in the pre-race pageant.

Deep in Conversation.

Jockey ‘Lo Zedde’ (Virginio Zedde) deep in conversation with one of the senior members of the Contrada di Valdimontone.

Pride of the Carabinieri.

A captain of the mounted section of the Carabinieri parading the track.

Carabinieri a cavallo.

Members of the mounted section of the Carabineri parade the track.

Charge of the cavalry.

The captain of the Carabineri a Cavallo signals the regiment to charge around the track at full speed.

The Groom and the Barbary.

A groom with the Barbary assigned to his Contrada.

The Pageant #1

The pre-race pageant of historical figures from Sienese society.

The Flag Bearer - Contrada della Pantera.

A flag bearer representing the Contrada Della Pantera at the pre-race pageant.

The Shield bearer.

The leader of the Contrada di Valdimontone at the pre-race pageant.

Timeless Elegance.

A horseback rider in traditional costume at the pre-race pageant.

The Leader - Contrada della Torre.

The Leader of the Contrada della Torre at the pre-race pageant.

The Flag Bearer - Contrada della Torre

A flag bearer representing the Contrada della Torre at the pre-race pageant.

The Leader - Imperiale Contrada della Giraffa.

The Leader of the Imperiale Contrada della Giraffa and one of his two men at arms at the pre-race pageant.

The Leader - Contrada dell’Onda

The Leader of the Contrada dell’Onda at the pre-race pageant.

The Carroccio.

The Carroccio displaying the August 2006 Palio banner, being pulled by the oxen in the pre-race pageant.

Dignitaries and Trumpeters.

The Carroccio with the Municipal trumpeters and four Superintendents of Balia.

Flag Throwing.

The keenly anticipated moment where the flag bearers of each Contrada line up outside the Municipal building in the piazza and hurl their flags high into the sky as part of the pre-race pageant.

Victory for Selva.

The winning jockey of the August 2006 Palio, Contrada della Selva rider, ‘Salasso’ (Alberto Ricceri).

Jubilation for Selva.

Contrada della Selva members swarm the track to celebrate victory and claim the August 2006 Palio banner.

The winning jockey of the August 2006 Palio, Contrada della Selva rider, ‘Salasso’ (Alberto Ricceri).

Celebration for Salasso and Selva.

‘Salasso’ (Alberto Ricceri) celebrating with Contrada della Selva members late into the evening.

The Palio is a Sienese tradition that dates back over seven hundred years. The city of Siena is situated in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. It is a four day celebration which culminates in a bare back horse race around the historical piazza, the Campo, on the 2nd of July and 16th of August of every year.

The race comprises of ten of the cities seventeen contradas. Each contrada has its own district in the city, its own identity, colours, culture, history heritage, church and museum. The members of each contrada can number anywhere between three hundred and three thousand. Each race is run with the seven contrada’s that did not race in the previous Palio, with the other three places decided by lots. They compete for ‘The Palio’ which is a tapestry banner and is displayed in the contrada’s museum after victory.

The four day celebration and pageant is a spectacular event full of high passion and emotion. The Palio is not a horse race. It is not a spectacle. It is not an oil painting folklore for tourists, nor is it an occasion for a pleasant journey into the past.

The Palio is life. It is a group participation and at the same time an exceptionally intense individual emotion. It helps us to understand ourselves and much of our daily life.

It helps us rediscover the value of our ardent desires and feelings - the Palio is a race of the soul.