Palio di Siena – Palio di Provenzano 2018

Everything You Need to Know About the Palio di Siena 2026.

Palio di Siena is an equestrian competition between the 17 contrade (districts) of the city, held twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, which involves a horse race in Piazza del Campo, preceded by a historical costume parade, Corteo Storico.

The Palio held on July 2 is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, and the Palio held on August 16 is known as Palio dell’Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary.

SHORT HISTORY

There is evidence of a horse race in Siena since 1200, when the Palio was a closing event of the annual festival in honor of the Virgin Mary of the Assumption, patron saint of the city.

After the plague of 1347, the number of the contrade was reduced to 42. They took their names from streets, churches or illustrious families residing in their territory.

During the Renaissance period, the great names of the aristocracy, high priests and European sovereigns reached the city for the Palio. After the fall of the Republic of Siena in 1559, the festival lost its ancient significance as a triumph of the city.

On July 11, 1605, Captain Sigismondo Santi and Cavalier Fortunio Martini have proposed to the Municipality that the competition should take place in Piazza del Campo. Therefore, in the first decades of the 17th century, the Palio concluded its transfer process in Piazza del Campo and its transformation into a popular festival.

In the 18th century, a second Palio was introduced, on August 16. The idea came from the Contrada dell’Oca, winner of the Palio of July 1701, that asked to organize another race on 16 August, for the holiday of the Assumption.

In 1729, Violante of Bavaria, the city’s governor, promulgated the New division of the boundaries of the Contrade, and the number of Sienese contrade was reduced to seventeen.

The 17 contrade of Siena, that are still competing today in the Palio are Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Little Owl), Drago (Dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (Crested Porcupine), Leocorno (Unicorn), Lupa (She-Wolf), Nicchio (Seashell), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Panther), Selva (Forest), Tartuca (Tortoise), Torre (Tower) and Valdimontone (Valley of the Ram).

PALIO DI PROVENZANO 2018, held in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, will take place on July 2, with only 10 contrade out of 17. The number of the participating contrade is made from seven that did not attend the Palio of the previous year, in July, and three drawn from those that participated the year before.