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{{Short description|Horse race that is held twice each year in Siena, Italy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name               = Palio di Siena
| logo               = 
| logo_caption       = 
| image              = Palio di Siena 2008 (2).jpg
| caption            = Horse and [[jockey]] ({{lang|it|fantino}}) turning a bend of the [[race course]] at [[Piazza del Campo]]
| status             = Active
| genre              = Historical [[horse-racing|horse race]]
| date               = 2 July and 16 August
| begins             = 
| ends               = 
| frequency          = Annually (twice)
| venue              = 
| location           = [[Piazza del Campo]], Siena
| coordinates        = {{Coord|43|19|06|N|11|19|53|E|region:IT-SI_type:event_source:dewiki|display=title,inline}}
| country            = [[Italy]]
| years_active       = 
| first              = 17th century<br>Palio "alla tonda"<br>{{Start date and age|1633}}
| founder_name       = 
| last               = 16 August 2025
| next               = 2 July 2026
| participants       = [[Contrade of Siena]]
| attendance         = 
| area               = 
| budget             = 
| activity           = 
| patron             = 
| organised          = [[Siena|Comune di Siena]]
| filing             = 
| people             = 
| member             = 
| sponsor            = 
| website            = {{URL|https://palio.comune.siena.it/| Palio di Siena}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[File:Palioallatonda1632.jpg|thumb|''Palio alla tonda'', 1633, by [[Bernardino Capitelli]]]]

The '''Palio di Siena''' ({{IPA|it|ˈpaːljo di ˈsjɛːna|pron}}; known locally simply as {{lang|it|Il [[Palio]]}}; from [[Latin]] {{lang|la|pallium}}) is a [[horse-racing|horse race]] held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in [[Siena]], Italy. Ten horses and riders, [[bareback riding|bareback]] and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen {{lang|it|[[Contrade of Siena|contrade]]}}, or city wards, in a tradition dating back to the 17th century. The Palio held on 2 July is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the [[Santa Maria in Provenzano, Siena|Madonna of Provenzano]], a [[Marian devotions|Marian devotion]] particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the {{ill|Terzo Camollia|it|Terzi (Siena)}} area of the city. The Palio held on 16 August is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the [[Assumption of Mary]].

Sometimes, in case of exceptional events or local or national anniversaries deemed relevant and pertinent ones, the city community may decide for an extraordinary Palio, run between May and September, such as on 9 September 2000, to celebrate the city entering the new millennium and on 20 October 2018, in commemoration of the centenary of the end of the [[Great War]].

The Corteo Storico, a [[Medieval pageant|pageant]] to the sound of the [[March of the Palio]], precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world.

The race itself, in which the jockeys ride bareback, circles the [[Piazza del Campo]], on which a thick layer of earth has been laid. The race is run for three laps of the piazza and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is common for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza, and indeed, it is not unusual to see riderless horses finishing the race.<ref name="Fortina S56–S59">{{Cite journal |last1=Fortina |first1=Mattia |last2=Maniscalco |first2=Pietro |last3=Carulli |first3=Christian |last4=Meccariello |first4=Luigi |last5=Colasanti |first5=Giovanni Battista |last6=Carta |first6=Serafino |date=2019-08-01 |title=Jockey injuries during the Siena "Palio". A 72-year analysis of the oldest horse race in Italy |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020138319301123 |journal=Injury |series=CIO: 360° in Trauma Care |volume=50 |pages=S56–S59 |doi=10.1016/j.injury.2019.03.015 |pmid=30910241 |issn=0020-1383|url-access=subscription }}</ref> A horse is not required to have a rider to win the race.<ref>As outlined in Article 70, '''Victory of the race''' by the official regulations of the Palio race.

Accessible at: https://www.ilpalio.siena.it/5/Reg/2019.aspx?C=5</ref>

The most recent [[:it:Vincitori del Palio di Siena (XXI secolo)|winner of the Palio]] was l'Oca, the goose, on July 3, 2025. [[Giovanni Atzeni]], professionally known as Tittia, won with the horse Diodoro for his 11th time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palio di Siena - The Winner of the July 3, 2025 is Oca |url=https://italianderutapottery.com/blog-discover-italy/palio-di-siena-the-winner-of-the-july-3-2025-is-oca/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Merchant of Prato/ Italian Pottery |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
===Origins===
The earliest known antecedents of the race are medieval. The town's central ''piazza'' was the site of public games, largely combative: ''pugna'', a sort of many-sided [[boxing]] match or brawl; [[jousting]]; and in the 16th century, [[bullfight]]s. Public races organized by the ''contrade'' were popular from the 14th century onwards; called ''{{ill|palio alla lunga|it|Palio alla lunga (Siena)}}'', they were run across the whole city.

When the [[Grand Duke of Tuscany]] outlawed bullfighting in 1590, the ''contrade'' took to organizing races in the Piazza del Campo. The first such races were on [[Domestic Asian Water buffalo|buffalo]]-back and called ''bufalate''; ''asinate'', races on [[donkey]]-back, later took their place, while horse racing continued elsewhere. The first modern Palio (called ''palio alla tonda'' to distinguish it from the earlier ''palio alla lunga'') took place in 1633.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpalio.org/vittorie1633-1691.html|title=The Palio Horse Race - All the victories at the Palio di Siena from 1633 to 1691|publisher=Ilpalio.org|access-date=15 September 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===A second Palio in August===
At first, one race was held each year, on 2 July.  A second, on 16 August, was added from 1701, though initially, the August race was run intermittently rather than every year. The August race ''(il palio dell'Assunta)'', 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 date 16 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.

The August Palio started out as an extension of the celebrations of the July Palio and was organized and funded by July's winning contrada, though only if the contrada in question could afford it. After 1802, however, organisation and funding the August race became a central responsibility of the city, which removed annual uncertainty over whether or not an August Palio would run. It has been held at least since 15 August 1581 when 15-year-old jockey [[Virginia Tacci]] was the first female to ride a steed in the race.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Le donne del Palio di Siena - Virginia Tacci, la prima donna che corse il Palio di Siena nel 1581|url=https://www.ilpalio.org/gabrielli_virginia.htm|access-date=2021-10-02|website=www.ilpalio.org}}</ref>

===Restriction===
In 1729, the city's [[Munich]]-born governor, [[Duchess Violante Beatrice of Bavaria|Violante of Bavaria]], defined formal boundaries for the contrade, at the same time imposing several mergers so that the number of Sienese contrade was reduced to seventeen.  This was also the year of the decree restricting to ten the number of contrade that could participate in a Palio; the restriction, which remains in force, resulted from the number and extent of accidents experienced in the preceding races.

==The seventeen contrade==
{{Main|Contrade of Siena}}
[[File:Siena Palio-Fahnen 20030815-360.jpg|thumb|Banners of the city's ''[[Contrade of Siena|contrade]]'' sold before the race (a ''contrada'' is a district, or a [[ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]], within an Italian city)]]

The seventeen contrade are: 

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[File:600px Giallo listato di Nero e Turchino.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Notaries Aquila (Eagle)|'''Aquila''' (Eagle)]]
* [[File:600px Giallo e Verde listati di Azzurro con quadrato Rosso.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Bruco (Caterpillar)|'''Bruco''' (Caterpillar)]]
* [[File:600px chequered HEX-FFE72B HEX-D61206 border HEX-0000FF.svg|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Chiocciola (Snail)|'''Chiocciola''' (Snail)]]
* [[File:600px Nero e Rosso incrociati listati di Bianco.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Civetta (Little Owl)|'''Civetta''' (Little Owl)]]
* [[File:600px Rosa Antico e Verde con cornice gialla.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Drago (Dragon)|'''Drago''' (Dragon)]]
* [[File:600px Bianco listato di Rosso.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Giraffa (Giraffe)|'''Giraffa''' (Giraffe)]]
* [[File:600px Bianco listato di Nero Turchino e Rosso.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Istrice (Crested Porcupine)|'''Istrice''' (Crested Porcupine)]]
* [[File:600px Bianco e Arancio listati di Turchino.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Leocorno (Unicorn)|'''Leocorno''' (Unicorn)]]
* [[File:600px Bianco e Nero listati di Arancione.png|16px]] [[Contrada della Lupa|'''Lupa''' (She-Wolf)]]
* [[File:600px Blu listato di Rosso e Bianco.PNG|16px]] [[Nicchio (contrada)|'''Nicchio''' (Seashell)]]
* [[File:600px Verde listato di Bianco e Rosso con Cerchio Giallo in mezzo.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Oca (Goose)|'''Oca''' (Goose)]]
* [[File:600px Bianco e Celeste a Quadri.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Onda (Wave)|'''Onda''' (Wave)]]
* [[File:600px Blu e Rosso incrociati listati di Bianco.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Pantera (Panther)|'''Pantera''' (Panther)]]
* [[File:600px Verde e Arancione listati di Bianco.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Selva (Forest)|'''Selva''' (Forest)]]
* [[File:700px inclined HEX-F4D139 HEX-092D77.svg|16px]] [[Contrada of the Tortoise|'''Tartuca''' (Tortoise)]]
* [[File:600px Rosso listato di Bianco e Azzurro.PNG|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Torre (Tower)|'''Torre''' (Tower)]]
* [[File:600px Giallo e Rosso listato di Bianco Linee Orizzontali.png|16px]] [[Contrade of Siena#Valdimontone (Valley of the Ram)|'''Valdimontone''' (Valley of the Ram) often shortened to ''Montone'']]<ref>The contrada of Valdimontone, although its colors are yellow, red and white, has a habit of taking the prize for the jockey jacket with yellow and pink. This custom, reported since the 18th century, was formalized in 1833, to avoid confusion with contrada of Chiocciola, whose colors (yellow, red and blue) are almost identical.</ref>
{{div col end}}

In each race, only ten of the seventeen ''contrade'' participate: the seven which did not participate in the previous year's Palio and three others chosen by drawing lots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpalio.siena.it/ |title=Archivio del Palio di Siena |publisher=Il Palio.Siena .it |access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref>

==The race today==
The first race, ''Palio di Provenzano'' is held on 2 July, which is both the [[Visitation (Christianity)|Feast of the Visitation]] and the date of a local festival in honour of the [[Madonna of Provenzano]] (a sculpture of the [[Virgin Mary]] once owned by the Sienese leader [[Provenzano Salvani]], which was supposed to have miraculous curative power). The second race is held on 16 August (Palio dell'Assunta), the day after the Feast of the Assumption, and is likewise dedicated to the [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Virgin Mary]]. After exceptional events (e.g., the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landing) and on important anniversaries (e.g., the centennial of the [[Unification of Italy]]), the Sienese community may decide to hold a third Palio between May and September. The most recent was in 2018 to celebrate the anniversary of the end of WWI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PALIO of Siena Schedule |url=https://www.aboutsiena.com/Palio-races-of-Siena/palio-of-Siena-schedule.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=www.aboutsiena.com}}</ref>

The field consists of ten horses, so not all seventeen ''contrade'' can take part in the Palio on any occasion. The seven contrade that did not take part in that month of the previous year are automatically included; three more are chosen by draw. The draw, also known as the '''extraction''', occurs at 7:30 PM on a Sunday in the last days of May for the June race, and at the beginning of July for the August race. The draw consists of three [[Trumpet player|trumpeters]], known as ''chianire,'' who play from the windows of [[Palazzo Pubblico|city hall]], and then display the randomly drawn flag of the ''contrade'' selected for that race.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paradis |first=Tom |date=2022-05-26 |title=The Extraction of the Contrade: How Ten Competitors are Chosen for the Palio |url=https://sienavisitor.org/2022/05/25/the-extraction-of-the-contrade-how-ten-competitors-are-chosen-for-the-palio/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The Siena Visitor |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |url=https://palio.comune.siena.it/sites/default/files/2025-07/Brochure%20il%20palio%20in%20tasca_ENG%20WEB.pdf |title=Palio Pocket Guide}}</ref>

Private owners, some jockeys, offer the pick of their stables, selected during the year after trial races, other Palio races in Italy and veterinary examination, from which main representatives of the participating ''contrade'', the ''Capitani'', choose ten of approximately equal quality, three days before the race. A [[lottery]] then determines which horse will run for each ''contrada''. Six trial races are run, the first on the evening of the horse selection and the last on the morning before the Palio. Corruption ([[bribery]]) is commonplace, prompting the residents of each ''contrada'', known as ''contradaioli'', to keep a close watch on their stable and their rider. The horses are of mixed breed; no purebred horses are allowed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpalio.org/palioenglish3.htm |title=The Palio Horse Race - Commonly Asked Questions Regarding The Horses |publisher=Ilpalio.org |access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Palio - Carrocio.JPG|thumb|The ''[[carroccio]]'' of Siena during the Corteo Storico procession preceding the Palio of August 2006]]

The race is preceded by a spectacular pageant to the sound of the [[March of the Palio]], the Corteo Storico, which includes (among many others) ''Alfieri'', flag wavers, in medieval costumes. Just before the pageant, a squad of ''[[carabinieri]]'' on horseback, wielding swords, demonstrate a mounted [[charge (warfare)|charge]] around the track. They take one lap at a walk, in formation, and a second at a gallop that foreshadows the excitement of the race to come, before exiting down one of the streets that leads out of Piazza del Campo. Spectators arrive early in the morning, eventually filling the centre of the town square, inside the track, to capacity; the local police seal the entrances once the festivities begin in earnest. Seats ranging from simple [[bleacher]]s to elaborate [[box (theatre)|box seats]] may be had for a price, but sell out long before the day of the race.
 
At 7:30&nbsp;p.m. for the July race, and 7 p.m. for the August race, the detonation of an explosive charge echoes across the piazza, signaling to the thousands of onlookers that the race is about to begin. The race itself runs for three laps of the ''Piazza del Campo'', the perimeter of which is covered with several inches of dirt (imported and laid for the occasion at great expense to the city) and the corners of which are protected with padded crash barriers for the occasion. The jockeys ride the horses bareback from the starting line, an area between two ropes. Nine horses, in an order only decided by lot immediately before the race starts, enter the space. The tenth, the ''rincorsa'', waits outside. When the ''rincorsa'' finally enters the space between the ropes the starter (''mossiere'') activates a mechanism that instantly drops the ''[[History of cannabis in Italy#Hemp in traditional sports|canapo]]'' (the front rope). This process (the ''mossa'') can take a very long time, as deals have usually been made between various ''contrade'' and jockeys that affect when the ''rincorsa'' moves—he may be waiting for a particular other horse to be well—or badly-placed, for example.

[[File:Siena plaza.jpg|thumb|View of the Piazza del Campo, where the Palio is run]]

On the dangerous, steeply canted track, the riders are allowed to use their whips (in Italian, ''[[:wiktionary:nerbo|nerbi]]'', stretched, dried bulls' hide) not only for their own horse, but also for disturbing other horses and riders. The Palio in fact is won by the horse who represents his ''contrada'', and not by the jockeys. The winner is the first horse to cross the finish line&mdash;a horse can win without its rider (a condition known as ''cavallo [[:wiktionary:scosso|scosso]]''). A horse can also win without its decorative headgear (''spennacchiera''), although the opposite belief is widely held even among the Sienese. The loser in the race is considered to be the ''contrada'' whose horse came second, not last.

The winner is awarded a banner of painted silk, or ''palio'', which is hand-painted by a different artist for each race. The enthusiasm after the victory, however, is so extreme that the ceremony of attribution of the ''palio'' is quite instantaneous, being the first moment of a months-long celebration for the winning ward. There are occasional outbreaks of violence between partisans of rival ''contrade''.

There may be some danger to spectators from the sheer number of people in attendance. There have also been complaints about mistreatment of horses, injuries and even deaths, especially from animal-rights associations and even from some [[veterinarian]]s.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}} In the Palio held on 16 August 2004, the horse for the ''contrada'' of Bruco (the Caterpillar) fell and was badly trampled, as the race was not stopped despite possible additional safety risks for other horses. The horse died of its injuries, raising further complaints from animal-rights organizations.

The Palio differs from "normal" horse races in that part of the game is for the wards to prevent rival ''contrade'' from winning. When a ''contrada'' fails to win, its historical enemy will celebrate that fact nearly as merrily as a victory of its own, regardless of whether adversarial interference was a deciding factor. Few things are forbidden to the jockeys during the race; for instance, they can pull or shove their fellows, hit the horses and each other, or try to hamper other horses at the start.

The most successful ward is Oca, the Goose, which has won 64 races (at least according to their records, which start from 1644), followed by Chiocciola, the Snail, with 51, and Tartuca, the Tortoise, with 46. Oca is also the ''contrada'' with the most wins in recent history (from 1900 to 2010) with 21 victories, followed by Selva, the Forest, with 18, and Drago, the Dragon, with 17.

Among jockeys, the most victorious of all time is [[Andrea Degortes]], nicknamed ''Aceto'' ('Vinegar'), with 14 wins (from 1964 to 1996). Angelo Meloni, nicknamed ''Picino'' (active from 1897 to 1933) has the second in the number of wins with 13 successes, and [[Luigi Bruschelli]], nicknamed ''Trecciolino'' (still active), has the third most of 12 wins (although he claims 13 victories, his horse won without him one year).

The most successful horses were Folco and Panezio with eight wins each, followed by Topolone with seven.

In recent history (from 1900 to the present), only three wards have succeeded in winning both the July and the August races in a single year (the term in Italian is ''fare cappotto'') with the same jockey. Tartuca (the Tortoise) accomplished the feat in 1933 with jockey Fernando Leoni (nicknamed "Ganascia") on Folco. In 1997, Giraffa (the Giraffe) won both races, with jockey Giuseppe Pes, nicknamed ''Il Pesse''. In 2016, jockey Jonatan Bartoletti, on the mount "Preziosa Penelope", won both the July and August races for Lupa (the She-wolf).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sienafree.it/palio-e-contrade/palio/83048-palio-di-siena-del-16-agosto-2016-trionfa-incredibilmente-la-lupa-e-cappotto-|title=Palio di Siena del 2 luglio 2017: TRIONFA LA GIRAFFA CON SCOMPIGLIO|access-date=17 August 2016|archive-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331214436/http://www.sienafree.it/palio-e-contrade/palio/83048-palio-di-siena-del-16-agosto-2016-trionfa-incredibilmente-la-lupa-e-cappotto-|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Ritual and rivalry==
The ''Palio di Siena'' is more than a simple horse race. It is the culmination of ongoing rivalry and competition between the ''contrade''. The lead-up and the day of the race are invested with passion and pride. Formal and informal rituals take place as the day proceeds, with each ''contrada'' navigating a strategy of horsemanship, alliances and animosities. There are the final clandestine meetings among the heads of the ''contrade'' and then between them and the jockeys.<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = 75 seconds to Victory
 |url         = http://www.ilpaliodisiena.com/ITALIA/SIENA/contrade/75victor.htm
 |access-date  = 21 September 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090517023058/http://www.ilpaliodisiena.com/italia/siena/contrade/75victor.htm
 |archive-date = 17 May 2009
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> There is the two-hour pageant of the ''Corteo Storico'', and then all this is crowned by the race, which takes only about 75 seconds to complete. Although there is great public spectacle, the passions displayed are still very real.

The ''contrada'' that has been the longest without a victory is nicknamed ''nonna'' ('grandmother').  Civetta (the Owlet) had the title from 1979 until 2009, when it won 16 August race. Torre (the Tower) had this title for being without victory for 44 years (from 1961 to 2005), and Bruco (the Caterpillar) held the title for not winning over 41 years (from 1955 to 1996). Last ''nonna'' was Lupa (the She-Wolf), which has not had a victory since 2 July 1989, a period of {{Age in years|1989}} years, until July 2016, when it finally won, leaving now the ''nonna'' title to Aquila (the Eagle).

==Palio (Drappellone)==
[[File:Drappellone.jpg|thumb|The drappellone banner of the Palio of 16 August 2009, painted by Giuliano Ghelli]]

The ''drappellone'' ('banner'), or ''palio'', known affectionately as ''cencio'' ('the rag') in Siena, is the trophy that is to be delivered to the ''contrada'' that wins the Palio.

The ''palio'' is an elongated rectangular piece of silk, hand-painted by an artist for the occasion. It is held vertically on a black-and-white shaft halberd and topped by a silver plate, with two white and black plumes draped down the sides.

The ''palio'', along with the plumes, remains the property of the ''contrada''. The plate is returned to the city of Siena before the two Palii of the following year, after the date and the name of the victorious ''contrada'' are inscribed on its back. There is one silver platter for the Palio in July and another for the August Palio. The plates are replaced approximately every ten years.

The value of the banner is unique, because it represents a particular historical period of the city of Siena. The ''palii'' often reflect the symbols of the various governments that have presided at various times, including the crest of the grand duchy of Lorraine, the crest of the [[Grand Dukes of Tuscany]], the crest of the [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861)|Kingdom of Sardinia]], symbols from [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Fascist Italy]], and most recently, imagery of the [[Republic of Italy|Republic]].

The process that an artist should follow in designing the ''palio'' is rigid: it must follow a precise iconography that includes some sacred symbols, as the July Palio is dedicated to the Madonna of Provenzano, and that of August to the Madonna of the Assumption. It must present the insignia of the city, the heraldic shields of the Terzi (thirds) of the city,<ref>[[:it:Terzi (Siena)]]</ref> and the symbols or colors of the ten ''contrade'' participating in the race. There are, however, no limits regarding the style of the art. The ''palio'' is first presented at a press conference in the courtyard of the Podestà of the City Hall about a week before the race.

==Preparations throughout the year==
[[File:Contradaioli lg tempodipalio147 nit.jpg|thumb|A typical image of the four-day party: groups of Contrada della [[Contrade of Siena#Torre (Tower)|Torre (Tower)]] on stage singing]]

Although many activities take place within each ''contrada'', the organization of the Palio is still the largest, since it is not just in two races each year. Each time, the festival itself runs for four days of events, the preparation for which lasts all year.

Beginning in early winter, the contrada leaders talk and develop strategies, making contacts with the jockeys and horse owners. These leaders prepare those who will race in the Piazza del Campo or take part in minor Palios elsewhere in nearby towns (''la cosiddetta provincia'') and bring them to training courses organized by the city in the spring.

The full activities of the Palio start to grow in momentum towards the end of May, with the drawing of lots of the three remaining ''contrade'' that will join the seven that have won the right to race. With districts and teams outlined, ''contrade'' begin to talk about "deals" (engagement of jockeys) and "parties" (secret pacts for the win), despite not knowing which horse they will draw in the lot.

About a week before the race, the ''palio'' (''drappellone'') itself is presented to the city, which has commissioned a local artist (in the case of the Palio of July) or internationally recognized artist (in the case of the Palio of August or a special Palio) to create the prize. Also at this time, visits occur to the horses which will be presented for the lottery.

In the first of the four days of the festival, the lottery is held to select which ''barbero'' (the term for 'racehorse' in the city of Siena and Tuscany) will go to which contrada. The stone race track around the square is covered with a layer of dirt composed of a mixture of [[tuff]], [[clay]] and [[sand]]. Six trials are run, during which the riders have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their horse and with the track itself, its sounds and rhythms of the race. The trials, ''Prova'', are held the evening of the horse lottery and twice daily for the next two days. Attended by many tourists and ''contrada'' members in square, barriers are mounted on the outside of the track so no people may move in and out during the race. The children of the ''contrade'' are assembled in bleachers to sing closest to the city hall during the trials, but adults will sit there on the race day. Children are no longer allowed to stand in the middle of the piazza during the race, and can only view from a bleacher or window.

Among the events that mark the approach of the Palio are the rehearsal dinner, the "mass" of the jockeys and the blessing of the horse and jockey.

==Extraordinary Palios==
An extraordinary Palio is a third Palio which may take place during the period between May and September and is associated with events or anniversaries of major importance for the community of Siena. The most recent extraordinary Palio was held in 2018. An extraordinary Palio on 9 September 2000 coincided with the advent of the new millennium and was won by [[Contrade of Siena#Selva (Forest)|Selva (Forest)]], by jockey Giuseppe Pes riding on the horse Urban II. Prior to this, the last extraordinary Palio was held on 13 September 1986 to celebrate the centenary of the abolition of the Balia and Biccherna governments.

In earlier times, the third Palio was a way to honor distinguished guests passing through or visiting Siena. Examples are the extraordinary Palio of 7 June 1676, during the visit to Siena of the wife of Prince Don Agostino Chigi, and that of 15 June 1673 (not considered official), honouring the visit to Siena of [[Flavio Chigi (1631-1693)|Cardinal Flavio Chigi]]. Even the [[Grand Duke of Tuscany]] requested another round of Palio, perhaps closer to the ordinary.

From the second half of the 19th century, extraordinary Palios began to be organized for celebration of special events, rather than illustrious visits. This was the case of a meeting of the Society of Sciences or the inauguration of important monuments (such as the inauguration of the monument to the fallen in the [[Curtatone|Battle of Curtatone]] and [[Montanara]], on 29 May 1893). In 1896, they even ran four Palios, both ordinary and two extraordinary. The first extraordinary race was on 16 August, which is considered extraordinary because it was requested by the citizens as the original race was moved to 25 August due to transfer from Siena's VIII Corps, and the second was on 23 September for the inauguration of the monument to [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]].

A third Palio, the "Palio of Peace", was held in 1945 by popular acclaim to celebrate the end of World War II and was won by Gioacchino Calabro riding Rubacuori su Folco, for the ''contrada'' of [[Contrade of Siena#Drago (Dragon)|Drago (Dragon)]]. An extraordinary Palio was held in 1969 to commemorate the landing on the Moon by the [[Apollo 11]] mission.

After 1945 the habit of running extraordinary palios to mark important centenaries emerged.   A palio was held on 28 May 1950 to celebrate the five hundredth anniversary of the canonization of [[Saint Bernardine of Siena]].   On 5 June 1961 an extraordinary palio marked the centenary of [[Unification of Italy|unification]].   The most recent centenary palio, held on 20 October 2018, commemorated [[Armistice of Villa Giusti|the ending of the]] [[First World War]] in 1918.

==Victories per ''contrada''==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" summary="Number of victories by each Contrada, subdivided by Century" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Contrada
!Total Victories
!17th century
!18th century
!19th century
!20th century
!21st century
!Date of last victory
!Time since last victory
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:600px Giallo listato di Nero e Turchino.PNG|30px]] Aquila || 24 || 0 || 7 || 6 || 11 || 0 || 3 July 1992
|{{Age in years and days|3 Jul 1992}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:600px Giallo e Verde listati di Azzurro con quadrato Rosso.PNG|30px]] Bruco || 37 || 6 || 7 || 16 || 5 || 3 || 16 August 2008
|{{Age in years and days|16 Aug 2008}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:600px chequered HEX-FFE72B HEX-D61206 border HEX-0000FF.svg|30px]] Chiocciola || 51 || 4 || 19 || 14 || 14 || 0 || 16 August 1999
|{{Age in years and days|16 Aug 1999}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Nero e Rosso incrociati listati di Bianco.PNG|30px]] Civetta || 33 || 2 || 7 || 15 || 8 || 3 || 16 August 2014
|{{Age in years and days|16 Aug 2014}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Rosa Antico e Verde con cornice gialla.PNG|30px]] Drago || 39 || 2 || 8 || 10 || 15 || 4 || 2 July 2022
|{{Age in years and days|2 Jul 2022}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Bianco listato di Rosso.PNG|30px]] Giraffa || 36 || 3 || 5 || 9 || 15 || 3 || 2 July 2019
|{{Age in years and days|2 Jul 2019}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Bianco listato di Nero Turchino e Rosso.PNG|30px]] Istrice || 41 || 4 || 11 || 14 || 10 || 2 || 2 July 2008
|{{Age in years and days|2 Jul 2008}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Bianco e Arancio listati di Turchino.PNG|30px]] Leocorno || 31 || 3 || 3 || 11 || 11 || 4 || 17 August 2022
|{{Age in years and days|17 Aug 2022}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Bianco e Nero listati di Arancione.png|30px]] Lupa || 38 || 1 || 11 || 11 || 11 || 4 || 17 August 2024
|{{Age in years and days|17 Aug 2024}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Blu listato di Rosso e Bianco.PNG|30px]] Nicchio || 42 || 5 || 10 || 12 || 15 || 0 || 16 August 1998
|{{Age in years and days|16 Aug 1998}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Verde listato di Bianco e Rosso con Cerchio Giallo in mezzo.PNG|30px]] Oca || 67 || 8 || 14 || 20 || 20 || 5 || 3 July 2025
|{{Age in years and days|3 Jul 2025}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Bianco e Celeste a Quadri.PNG|30px]] Onda || 41½ || 4 || 9½ || 14 || 11 || 4 || 4 July 2024
|{{Age in years and days|4 Jul 2024}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Blu e Rosso incrociati listati di Bianco.PNG|30px]] Pantera ||26 || 3 || 6 || 7 || 9 || 1 || 2 July 2006
|{{Age in years and days|2 Jul 2006}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Verde e Arancione listati di Bianco.PNG|30px]] Selva || 39 || 2 || 11 || 6 || 14 || 6 || 2 July 2023
|{{Age in years and days|2 Jul 2023}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:700px inclined HEX-F4D139 HEX-092D77.svg|30px]] Tartuca || 48½ || 4 || 11½ || 16 || 12 || 5 || 20 October 2018
|{{Age in years and days|20 Oct 2018}}<ref>Extraordinary Palio</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Rosso listato di Bianco e Azzurro.PNG|30px]] Torre || 45 || 6 || 12 || 20 || 5 ||2 || 2 July 2015
|{{Age in years and days|2 Jul 2015}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|  [[File:600px Giallo e Rosso listato di Bianco Linee Orizzontali.png|30px]] Valdimontone || 44 || 2 || 16 || 10 || 15 || 1 || 16 August 2025
|{{Age in years and days|16 Aug 2025}}
|- class="sortbottom"
|}

==Controversy and equine security measures==
For several years, the Palio has been the focus of numerous protests by animal-rights organizations, including the Anti-Vivisection League. Concerns include primarily race incidents causing falls, which in some cases have led to horses' deaths.

In 2011, these concerns resulted in Italy's tourism minister blocking the Palio from being nominated for listing in the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/17/palio-siena-ban-horse-cruelty|title=Siena Palio: Scrap cruel street races, activists say|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=16 April 2011}}</ref>

The results of calculations on the percentage of accidents caused by the Palio vary depending on who makes them. According to the Anti-Vivisection League, a total of 48 horses have died from 1970 to 2007,<ref>[http://www.lav.it/index.php?id=499 Il palio di Siena] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316080152/http://www.lav.it/index.php?id=499|date=16 March 2013}} dossier della [[Lega Anti Vivisezione]]</ref> an average of one dead horse per year. However, the calculations carried out by supporters of the Palio for the same period, which include all the tests held before the real race, give a rate of 2.05%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunto.org/I%20libri%20elettronici%20di%20Sunto/Leverecifresugliinfortuni/Le%20vere%20cifre%20degli%20infortuni%20sul%20tufo.pdf |title=Sergio Profeti, Le vere cifre degli infortuni sul tufo, Ed.Sunto, 2004 |access-date=19 June 2012 |archive-date=12 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312222523/http://www.sunto.org/I%20libri%20elettronici%20di%20Sunto/Leverecifresugliinfortuni/Le%20vere%20cifre%20degli%20infortuni%20sul%20tufo.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> of fatal accidents per ride. Injuries to riders is also significant. A recent study suggests in 96.1% of the Palio races between 1945 and 2017 resulted in the fall of at least one jockey during the race.<ref name="Fortina S56–S59"/>

Many rules governing the protection of animals have been developed and implemented only since the 1990s; supporters of the Palio stress that injuries have been drastically reduced since then.

In recent decades, the city of Siena has adopted a series of measures to ensure the [[protection]] of horses (and riders) before, during and after the race, but these measures are still judged insufficient by some [[Animal welfare|animal welfare groups]], who continue to seek abolition of the race. Among the measures taken include:

* Approval in 1999 of the ''Protocollo per l’addestramento dei cavalli da Palio,'' or the "Protocol for the provision of incentives for the maintenance of the Palio horse"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutela del cavallo {{!}} Il Palio di Siena |url=https://palio.comune.siena.it/node/124 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=palio.comune.siena.it}}</ref> enacted an agreement between the municipality and third party groups for the increased protection of horses. This established a register of horses trained to run. A register of farmers of horses intended for Palio was then introduced in 2004, instead of the use of half blood Arabian horses (deemed physically fit to travel).<ref>This project aims to achieve: the accreditation of the owners, after verification of appropriate conditions, the selection of horses with common features of the biometric considered optimal for the commitment to be addressed; training of subjects in competitions and training courses to order to optimize the preparation and adaptability to the location of the Palio, the implementation of a system of economic incentives for owners to address the purchase and breeding of horses with shared characteristics, the constant monitoring of animals by veterinarians being the Regulatory Commission Technical Hall. See also [http://allegati.comune.siena.it:8080/Allegati/3098/SIENA_Rendiconto_2001-2006_Giunta_Cenni.pdf Rendiconto Giunta Cenni 2001-2006]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, pag.275</ref> Today, jockeys must register their horses online with the municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adempimenti Palii e Protocollo |url=https://www.comune.siena.it/servizi/adempimenti-palii-e-protocollo |access-date=7 July 2025 |website=Comune di Siena |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621042308/https://www.comune.siena.it/servizi/adempimenti-palii-e-protocollo |archive-date=21 June 2024}}</ref>
* A compulsory health check held by a commission appointed by the City Council and consisting of two surgeons.<ref>cf. Regulation of the Palio (Chapter IV – The submission, selection and award lots of horses) Article 37: ''The horses to be presented must, in the days immediately preceding the question on the written request of owners, undergo a visit by a Veterinary Commission, which must express opinion on health at the races in "Campo".''</ref>
* Improvements to training for horses. Including building a similar track in [[Morciano di Romagna|Mociano]], identical in shape and slope to the Piazza del Campo. From March to June, horses train here, in addition to alternative tracks at [[Monticiano]] and [[Monteroni d'Arbia]].<ref name="autogenerated1">cfr. Board of Work Statement, cit.</ref>
* Creating a protective barrier, or ''materassoni,'' around the curve of St. Martin. This was built in June 1999, made of high absorption PVC, which raised the parapet of the House and the curve of shirts for improved safety.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
* Improvements to the safety of the track itself. This includes interventions to the composition, method of implementation and monitoring of the layer of ''tuff,'' or mud track of the race.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
* An alcohol test, conducted via breathalyzer, for jockeys was made legal in 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.style.it/news/le-notizie-del-giorno/2010/07/02/palio-di-siena--alcol-test-per-i-fantini.aspx|title=Palio di Siena, alcol-test per i fantini|publisher=Style.it|access-date=19 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722151208/http://www.style.it/news/le-notizie-del-giorno/2010/07/02/palio-di-siena--alcol-test-per-i-fantini.aspx|archive-date=22 July 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  by the order of the Secretary of Health [[Francesca Martini]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.normativasanitaria.it/jsp/dettaglio.jsp?attoCompleto=si&id=30010 |title=ORDINANZA del 21 luglio 2009 |publisher=Normativasanitaria.it |access-date=19 June 2012}}</ref> In February 2025 [[Siena|Siena municipality]] published an update to the race protocols, ''Protocollo per l’addestramento dei cavalli da Palio per l’anno 2025, which'' allows for [[Random drug testing|random drug and alcohol testing]] beginning in the training period.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 February 2025 |title='Protocollo equino', firmata l'ordinanza sulle misure operative |url=https://www.comune.siena.it/novita/protocollo-equino-firmata-lordinanza-sulle-misure-operative |work=Comune di Siena}}</ref>

==Photo gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Siena Piazza del Campo 20030815-375.jpg|Thousands of spectators come to Piazza del Campo during the Palio di Siena.
Image:La folla durante il Palio.jpg|The crowd fills the Piazza del Campo just before departure.
Image:Entrone lg palio provenzano 2007 (68).jpg|The horses come into the Piazza del Campo for a grand entrance.
Image:Canapi lg palio057 nit.jpg|Municipality workers tighten the ropes just at the beginning of the race.
Image:Mossiere lg palio provenzano 2007 (69).jpg|Each ''contrada'' is called to take its place before the race.
Image:Mossa lg palio provenzano 2007 (83).jpg|The last horse enters; the move is valid: race starts.
Image:Mossa lg il palio del 16 agosto 2006 (7).jpg|The start of the Palio of 16 August 2006
Image:Arrivo lg il palio del 16 agosto 2006 (16).jpg|Alberto Ricceri expresses his joy at the victory on 16 August 2006 for [[Contrade of Siena#Selva (Forest)|Selva (Forest)]].
Image:Bacio cavallo lg palio assunta 2007 (77).jpg|Jonatan Bartoletti kisses Brento in thanks, before entering the Church for Maria Mater Gratiae.
</gallery>

==Films==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2025}}

The Palio di Siena is seen in the following films:

* ''[[Palio (1932 film)|Palio]]'' by [[Alessandro Blasetti]] (1932)
* ''[[La ragazza del Palio]]'' by [[Luigi Zampa]] (1957)
* ''[[Bianco rosso celeste – cronaca dei giorni del Palio di Siena]]'' by [[Luciano Emmer]] (1963)
* "[[The Winds Rise]]", the first episode of the 1983 miniseries ''[[The Winds of War (miniseries)|The Winds of War]]'', ABC miniseries directed by [[Dan Curtis]]
* ''[[Il bianco e il nero – Tutti i colori del Palio di Siena]]'' by [[Anton Giulio Onofri]] (2002)
* ''[[The Last Victory]]'' by [[John Appel]] (2004)
* ''[[Visioni di Palio]]'' by [[Anton Giulio Onofri]] (2004)
* ''[[Piazza delle Cinque Lune]]'' by [[Renzo Martinelli]] (2006)
* ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'', the 22nd James Bond movie, directed by [[Marc Forster]] (2008)<ref>{{cite news|last=Owen|first=Richard|title=Bond has activists on his tail over new film's 'brutal' horse race finale|work=[[The Times]]|date=13 August 2007|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2246486.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615105741/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2246486.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2011|access-date=13 August 2007 | location=London}}</ref>
* ''[[Palio (2015 film)|Palio]]'' by [[Cosima Spender]] and John Hunt (2015)
*''[[Tucci in Italy]]'', Season 1, Episode 1 (2025)

==See also==
* [[Bravio delle botti]] of Montepulciano
* [[Palio di Legnano]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* Brown, Margaret Mcdonough and Titus Buckhardt (1960). ''Siena, the City of the Virgin''. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
* [[Wolfgang Drechsler|Drechsler, Wolfgang]] (2006). "The Contrade, the Palio and the ''Ben Comune'': Lessons from Siena", ''Trames'' 10(2), 99-125.[https://www.academia.edu/7795655/The_Contrade_the_Palio_and_the_Ben_Comune_Lessons_from_Siena]
* Dundes, Alan and Alessandro Falassi (2005). ''La Terra in Piazza. An Interpretation of the Palio of Siena''. 2 the new edn. (Orig. 1972). Siena: Nuova Immagine. (Standard work, but meanwhile very controversial because of its [[Psychoanalysis|Freudian]] interpretation.)
* Falassi, Alessandro (1985). "Palio Pageant: Siena's Everlasting Republic", ''The Drama Review'' 29(3), 82-92.
* Handelman, Don (1998). ''Models and Mirrors: Towards an Anthropology of Public Events''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
* Silverman, Sydel (1979). "On the Use of History in Anthropology: The Palio of Siena", ''American Ethnologist'' 6(3), 413-436. (Most important counter-model to Dundes & Falassi.)
* Pascal, C. Bennett (1981). "October Horse", ''Harvard Studies in Classical Philology'' 85, 261-291.
* Spicer, Dorothy Gladys (1958). ''Festivals of Western Europe''. Wilson.
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Siena |volume=25 |page=48}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090517023058/http://www.ilpaliodisiena.com/italia/siena/contrade/75victor.htm ''Il Palio di Siena'' website - English Summary.]
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.thepalio.com The Palio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907115407/http://www.thepalio.com/ |date=7 September 2015 }} {{in lang|en}} The definitive English language site for all Palio Di Siena related information 
* [http://www.ilpalio.siena.it Archive of the Palio di Siena I] {{in lang|it}} The Italian archive site includes access to short contemporary films of the Palio for 1930 and most subsequent years.
* [http://www.ilpalio.org/palioenglish.htm Archive of the Palio di Siena II] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.ilpaliodisiena.eu/ History of the Race] {{in lang|it|en}}
* [http://www.palio.be/ www.palio.be] {{in lang|nl}}
* [http://www.thepalio.eu/ www.thepalio.eu] {{in lang|en}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026075649/http://www.mapitout-siena.com/2011/07/sienas-palio-and-how-to-overcome-your.html Siena - Map It Out!]}} {{in lang|en}}  How to Survive a Day at the Palio
* [https://www.jacopodellatorre.com/palio-di-siena-news/ How to be more than a spectator] {{in lang|en}}
* [https://www.italyscapes.com/events/tuscany/siena/historical-reenactments/palio-di-siena-2026/ Palio di Siena 2026] {{in lang|en}}

{{Historical competitions of Italy}}
{{Siena landmarks}}
{{Economy of Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palio Di Siena}}
[[Category:1656 establishments in the Grandy Duchy of Tuscany]]
[[Category:August]]
[[Category:Culture of Tuscany]]
[[Category:Festivals in Italy]]
[[Category:Historical competitions of Italy]]
[[Category:Horse races in Italy]]
[[Category:Italian traditions]]
[[Category:Siena]]
[[Category:Sport in Tuscany]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tuscany]]