What is the Palio?
Click here to see our Palio page. The Palio di Siena is a horse race between different districts of Siena. These districts are called contrade in Italian. The race is held twice a year with 10 contrade of 17 competing in each race. Race officials hold lotteries to select the competing districts. On race day, jockeys ride their horses bareback in a 3-lap race around Siena’s main square – the Piazza del Campo. Siena’s has held regular Palio races since 1656 although the first Palio may have been as early as 1583.
