Skip to main content

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.  

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT IS THE PALIO? SIENA'S HORSE RACE IN A NUTSHELL

The twelve must-knows for people wanting to impress fellow travelers with their thorough knowledge of the Palio di Siena, the world’s oldest continually hold sporting event.  1. WHAT IS THE PALIO? Italy's most famous horse race takes place twice a year o n piazza del Campo, Siena’s shell shaped medieval square. 2. WHEN IS THE PALIO?  Each year on the  2nd of July and the 16th of August . The July race called  Palio della Madonna di Provenzano  starts at 7.30 pm, the  Palio dell'Assunta  in August at 7 pm. However, both races are proceeded by a pageantry procession, so prepare to access piazza del Campo three to four hours before the start of the race. The festival lasts for a total of four days each time, which are made up of trial races and neighborhood dinners. Piazza del Campo and Palazzo Pubblico during Palio  3. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Siena has 17 neighborhoods ( contrade  in Ialian), but only ten of them can ...

SECRET SIGHTS IN SIENA: HIDDEN FRESCOES AT PALAZZO PUBBLICO AND CO.

Fresco by Sano di Pietro in one of Palazzo Pubblico's six secret rooms STANZE SEGRETE / SECRET ROOMS at PALAZZO PUBBLICO, piazza del Campo Upcoming dates:  March 22/23, 2014;  May 21/22, 2014 If you've been to Siena countless times, you may think you know it all. But you don't. Because you couldn't. Not even I - the famous writer of an arty-farty blog about Siena - have seen all of the Renaissance frescoes at Siena's civic museum yet.  For a reason. Palazzo Pubblico in piazza del Campo may be one of Siena's main sights (think famous frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Simone Martini), but many of its beautifully adorned rooms are normally off-limits to the general public. Unless you happen to be in town for one of the guided visits which take place only a couple of times a year and grant you access to the hidden rooms with frescoes by Sienese masters like Sano di Pietro, Lippo Memmi and Il Sodoma.  Guided visits at: 1 0:30 - 11:30 -   12:30 - ...

VINTAGE MARKET AND 1930s PARTY IN SIENA: Saturday April 5, 2014

Considering how much Italy's image is linked to its 20th century icons (from Sophia Loren, Fellini and Marcello Mastroianni to Vespa and Fiat 500), it always surprises me how difficult it is to find a decent vintage store.  Gucci and Fendi outlets may be thriving in Tuscany, but  y ou're better off in London or Zurich, if you're after  a dress Gina Lollobrigida or Eleonora Duse could have worn.  Whether baby clothes or evening gowns, the majority of Italians prefer new to second hand, and whilst antique furniture markets are a monthly staple of many a Tuscan town, garage sales and vintage stores have never really gotten off the ground in this country.    In Siena Aloe & Wolf is an exemption to the rule. The vintage shop in via Porrione has become a well loved staple in town and has every reason to celebrate its successful 10th year in business (yes, Kate Moss stopped and shopped here too).  SWINGING ON PORRIONE: SATURDAY 5th of APRI...