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PARTICIPATING CONTRADE IN THE PALIO RACE ON JULY 2, 2015

Siena's onda (wave) contrada getting ready for the July Palio
Palio dinner preparations in the Onda neighborhood


As with every Palio, only 10 out of Siena's 17 contrade can participate in the horse race. 

The ten contrade which will race piazza del Campo on July 2, 2015 in the world's oldest continually run sporting event are: 

  • Torre (tower)
  • Nicchio (shell)
  • Civetta (owl)
  • Valdimontone (ram)
  • Leocorno (unicorn)
  • Oca (goose)
  • Pantera (pantheress)
  • Selva (forest)
  • Onda (wave)
  • Tartuca (tortoise)


PALIO HOSE RACE JULY 2, 2015

The weather forecast shows 30 degrees for the whole week in Siena. If you're not great with the heat and sticky crowds skip the long afternoon of waiting in piazza del Campo on July 2, and make do with a trial race instead. The first of them takes place on the evening of June 29 at 7.45 pm. Followed by morning trials at 9 pm and evening trials (again at 7.45 pm) on all the days leading up to the final race on July 2. The morning trials are less busy than the evening ones, but the light is beautiful and the town is at its best since not touristy yet at that time of the day.

The Palio neighbourhood dinners (Cena della Prova Generale) take place on the evening of July 1 in all 17 neighborhoods. However, the atmosphere will be more festive and competitive in the contrade which are actually taking part in the race on the following day. 
For last minute neighborhood dinners ask at your hotel or explore your favorite contrade and ask around for available spaces.  

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