Palio di Provenzano

The Palio di Provenzano is an historic horse race held annually on July 2 in the picturesque city of Siena, Italy. This event is a vibrant expression of the city's deep-rooted traditions and rich cultural heritage, and is one of the most significant and enduring symbols of Siena. The race itself is a thrilling spectacle, featuring ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the colors of their respective contrade, or city wards.

The Palio di Provenzano is named in honor of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena, which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia. The race is held in the historic center of Siena, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This area is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, renowned for its art, museums, medieval cityscape, and cuisine.

The Palio di Provenzano is a complex event, steeped in tradition and rules that have evolved over centuries. Only ten of the seventeen contrade participate in each race, with seven guaranteed spots and three drawn by lot. The horses and riders are assigned to each contrada through a lottery system known as the tratta, which takes place on the first day of the event.

The race itself is a thrilling spectacle, with horses and riders completing three laps around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, delimited by two long ropes known as the mossa. The start of the race is overseen by the Mossiere, a person responsible for ensuring that horses and jockeys are ready and in their assigned positions.

The Palio di Provenzano is more than just a horse race, however. It is a four-day celebration that includes six trial runs, a historic procession, and open-air dinners in each contrada. The procession is a lively display of rich medieval costumes, dating back to the time period from 1430 to 1480, and features flag-bearers, drummers, trumpeters, and musicians playing a march composed for the Palio by Pietro Formichi in 1875.

The spirit of Siena is deeply intertwined with the Palio di Provenzano, with each contrada having its own unique traditions, alliances, and rivalries. The event is a time of anxiety and expectation, with the crowd becoming delirious as the horses appear and the race begins. The winner of the race is awarded the so-called Drappellone, a large drape that serves as the race's prize.