Since 1147, the carousel of the Palio di Siena is renewed every year. Each year there are two important dates which attract tourists from around the world: on the 2nd of July (Palio di Provenzano) and on 16th of August  (Palio dell’Assunta).
The Palio is a horses race, mounted by experienced jockeys within the walls of the beautiful Piazza del Campo in Siena. Each horse represents a district (contrada) of the city. “Contrade” are in total seventeen, but only 10 are drawn for the race each year:  7 that have not played the previous year’s Career and 3 drawn lots.
To each district is assigned a horse, drawn lots among 10 horses selected from those physically fit. The assignment takes place the morning of the 29th of June for the Palio of July, and on the 13th of August for the Palio of August: this phase is called “Tratta“, the first appointment of a festival that lasts 4 days.
The race is close, the atmosphere becomes more nervous: on the one hand horse and jockey, on the other the supporters of the quarters and the curious spectators. In the days just preceding the two large appointments, the jockeys make some test runs, 6 in all. Three taking place in the morning and three in the evening. In these moments alternate rites to ward off the evil eye. The last test of night evidence is called “General Test” while the last in absolute – that of the morning of the Palio – is called “Provaccia“.
The Palio race consists on three laps of the Piazza del Campo, on a track tuff traced in the ring overpowering the shell. It starts by Mossa, consisting of two hemp in which you have 9 quarters in an order determined by lot. When the last enters, the hemp front is lowered and the departure is marked.

Piazza del Campo

The Contrada winner is that, whose horse, with or without a jockey, arrives first at the end of the three rounds.
The prize is the Palio, or Drappellone, produced annually by an artist selected by the City. A prize that the winner will keep forever in his museum.

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