<![CDATA[il Palio Siena - Learn about the history of Siena, the Contrade, and the passion around this ancient competition.

<![CDATA[il Palio Siena - Learn about the history of Siena, the Contrade, and the passion around this ancient competition. - il Palio News]]>Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:03:51 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[If you can't make it to Siena this year...]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2020 20:51:16 GMThttps://www.ilpaliosiena.com/il-palio-news/if-you-cant-make-it-to-siena-this-yearOur hearts are all breaking due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. Those of us who love to cross the Atlantic and take in the beauty of the European Summer are doing our best to live vicariously through memories, photographs and videos.

We did find a way to get a taste of European summer weather, along with some old-world charm. We've been exploring the Great Lakes, which form the boundary-waters between the USA and Canada. There are now five cruise lines plying these lovely freshwater seas, each with their own character and charm. More importantly, there are many European settlements along these lakes that take you back in time. Most notably, of course, is Quebec City, which is arguably the most European city in North America.

So, if you can't make it to Europe this summer, at least you can be transported by a Great Lakes cruise. We hope the experience is a memorable one.]]><![CDATA[5 Reasons Siena, Italy is going to be your Favorite European Vacation]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:33:44 GMThttps://www.ilpaliosiena.com/il-palio-news/5-reasons-siena-italy-is-going-to-be-your-favorite-european-vacation

Looking for a wonderful European vacation destination for the summer? Consider Siena, Italy and catch the most famous horse race in the world, Il Palio. Here are our top 5 reasons to visit:

1. Siena is home to Il Palio, a famous horse race held on July 2nd and August 16th every year.

Festivities surrounding Il Palio span numerous days during the months of July and August. Participate in the excitement by watching the trial races, experiencing the pageantry of the Corteo Storico - a historical costume parade on July 2nd, snagging tickets to the Final Rehearsal Dinner, and finally, witnessing 90-seconds of sheer excitement as the horses race around the Piazza del Campo.

2. Siena is a beautiful city filled with history and medieval beauty.

Siena, Italy, dates back to medieval times and was once one of the Europe’s wealthiest cities. Built on a hill overlooking a gorgeous vista, many of the city’s buildings were created between 1260 and 1348. Inside Siena, you’ll find beautiful, narrow streets lined with brick buildings. Vehicular traffic is limited within the city, so be prepared to take in much of the city’s history by foot.

3. Siena, Italy, is a central hub for exploring cities not to be missed during your European vacation.

While staying in Siena, you’ll have easy access to Florence, Chianti, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, and Cartona, among numerous others. Enjoy the quiet home base of Siena while exploring these surrounding cities via car, bus, or train. When travelling to Siena, your best bet will be to fly into Pisa, for transatlantic flights, or Florence for flights within Europe. Air transfers between Florence and Siena are about 60-75 minutes in duration. Siena does have a local airport, but does not have a regular flight schedule. Trains are reliable and run frequently.

4. The food and wine are epic in Siena, Italy.

Explore the food by tasting the local cuisine or by taking cooking classes. Or, take advantage of being in Tuscan country and learn about the numerous wines of the region. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed in Siena, Italy.

5. The city holds a vast collection of Italian art and hosts classical and jazz music festivals.

Siena was home to many famous Italian artists and still hosts an extensive art collection. You won’t want to miss the Piazza del Duomo, the Siena Cathedral Floor (only revealed at certain times during the year, but viewing can be timed with the mid-August il Paleo), the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, or the Pinacoteca Nazionale. During the summer months, you can also catch the Siena Jazz Festival or classical music at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana or numerous other locations around the city during the Settimana Musicale Senese.

Let us help you plan a fabulous trip to Siena, Italy. We’ll make sure this beautiful, exciting city becomes your favorite European vacation destination.

]]><![CDATA[Navigating Palio Siena: The Perfect Schedule for an Amazing Destination]]>Fri, 05 Jun 2015 13:24:51 GMThttps://www.ilpaliosiena.com/il-palio-news/navigating-palio-siena-the-perfect-schedule-for-an-amazing-destination

If you’re headed to Siena, Italy, for Palio Siena, you’ll want to arrive a few days early. Many exciting festivities start several days before the most famous horse races in the world on July 2 and August 16. To get the most out of your Palio Siena experience, you should plan your trip to coincide with these events:

3 days out (June 29 or August 13)

Early morning – The horses selected for this year’s Palio Siena are presented.
Midmorning – After making sure the horses are suitable to race, the final ten are selected.
Late morning – Horses are assigned to Contradas by drawing lots.
Evening – The first of six trial runs takes place.

2 days out (June 30 or August 14)

Morning – The second trial run occurs.
Evening – The third trial run occurs.

1 day out (July 1 or August 15)

Morning – The fourth trial run takes place.
Evening – The fifth trial run, or final rehearsal, takes place.
Late evening – The main street and the main piazza of Siena are lined with tables for the Final Rehearsal Dinner. Each Contrada participating in the event gathers for a community dinner with their jockey, leaders, community members, guests, and some tourists. Songs, speeches, and well-wishes are exchanged as food and wine flow.

Day of Palio Siena (July 2 or August 16)

Early morning – The Chapel next to the City Hall hosts “Jockey Mass.”
Midmorning – The final trial run of Palio Siena happens.
Midafternoon – Each Contrada’s parish church blesses the horse and jockey. Then, everyone comes together for the elaborate Corteo Storico, a pageant that includes flag wavers (Alfieri) in medieval costumes and the military police of Italy (the Carabinieri) on horseback demonstrating maneuvers with swords.
Late afternoon – The procession leaves the courtyard and moves to the main square.
Evening – The final pageantry takes place with the raising of the Palio banner. Soon after, the race begins!

To get the most from the festivities surrounding Palio Siena, you’ll want to take advantage of the expertise of Running of the Bulls, Inc. - il Palio di Siena’s premier tour and luxury accommodation provider. The best vantage points sell out months in advance and purchasing tickets can be complicated since there isn’t a central ticketing outlet. Also, tourists aren’t guaranteed spots at the Final Rehearsal Dinner. You must have connections to a local insider to secure tickets. But, don’t worry! With Running of the Bulls, Inc., you can have the best, most authentic adventure because our experienced staff can easily handle all of your Palio Siena trip needs.

]]><![CDATA[HOW A HORSE RACE PREVENTED A WAR AND CREATED A CULTURAL FOUNDATION]]>Wed, 13 May 2015 13:21:33 GMThttps://www.ilpaliosiena.com/il-palio-news/how-a-horse-race-prevented-a-war-and-created-a-cultural-foundation

The history.The contrade, or city districts, of Siena date back to medieval times when the city was trying to gain freedom in the war of independence from Florence. These original districts were created to help supply the many troops hired to defend the city. While the contrade no longer have military responsibilities, they are still of utmost importance to life within Siena.

The rivalry.The Sienese strongly identify with their contrada. Each of the 17 contrada have a rich history and distinct personal identity. In fact, rivalries and alliances with other contrada have been ongoing for centuries (often stemming from boundary and taxation disputes). Today, the individual neighborhoods serve as a cultural and spiritual hub for all citizens of the district – hosting recreational activities and providing social welfare, as well as each supporting a chapel, museum, and stables for horses competing in Palio de Siena. Even with today’s more modern thinking, marrying outside of one’s own district is still frowned upon. (If there is an inter-contrada marriage, it’s recommended that spouses sleep apart in their parent’s homes during the days leading up to Palio de Siena!)

The race.The world’s most passionate horse race, il Palio, takes place in Siena, Italy, on July 2 and August 16 of each year. This tradition dates back to as early as the 13th century. Since 1729, the number of participants has been limited to 10 contrada. The contrada that did not participate in the previous year’s Palio de Siena are eligible as well as three additional contrada.

The allegiances of citizens to their contrada comes alive during Palio de Siena. Preparations within each contrada for il Palio are elaborate. Rivalries and alliances between contrada come back to the forefront as just about anything - sabotage, bribery, trickery, sacrifice - goes in this race. Horses as well as jockeys are protected around the clock. Countless planning and strategy sessions are held, often in the district’s museum. And, all of the town’s citizens spend much of their time throughout the year preparing costumes and practicing the pageantry that will be displayed during the Corteo Storico.

If you’d like to visit each of the 17 contrada, contact us. Museums within the districts are often open by appointment only. But, we can help plan your trip to make exploration easy. Let us give you the experience of a lifetime filled with history, loyalty, rivalry, and the oldest horse race in the world – Palio de Siena.

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