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.