Siena Palio – Get ready for this year’s race!

Do you want a quick primer for the Siena Palio Horse Race? Start reading, as the activities for this year’s July race started in Italy today!

Every year on July 2^nd and August 16^th, the passionate horse race, The Palio, is run in Siena, Italy. 

Events today and tomorrow:

June 29th – (Italy time):

12:00 Assigning of the Horses to the Contrade

7:45 The first Prova (trial)

June 30th

9:00 The Second Prova

5:00 The Procession of the “Cero Votive“, The Votive Candle

7:45 The Third Prova

The trials feature between 5 and 6 horses each. The purpose is to ascertain the condition of the horses considered for the Palio and their suitability to race in the tight, crazy area of the Piazza del Campo.

When we visited Siena with our four sons, each family member immediately picked one contrade as a favorite, based on their colors and insignias.  Contrade are the residential areas that divide the ancient city.

There are seventeen contrade in Siena today.  The seventeen contrade are as follows:

• Aquila (Eagle)
  • Colors – yellow-gold striped with azure and black
  • Insignia – A black eagle with two crowned heads that holds a scepter, sword and an imperial globe in its claws

• Bruco (Caterpillar)
  • Colors – yellow and green striped with azure
  • Insignia – A crowned caterpillar that crawls on a twig with leaves

• Chiocciola (Snail)
  • Colors – Yellow and red striped with deep blue
  • Insignia – A snail and the initials of Kings Umberto and Margherita

• Civetta (Owl)
  • Colors – Red and black striped with white
  • Insigna – A crowned owl sitting on a branch

• Drago (Dragon)
  • Antic pink and green striped with yellow
  • Insignia – A flying dragon brings a feather with the letter “U”

• Giraffa (Giraffe)
  • Colors – White and red
  • Insiginia – A giraffe lead by a Moor and a ribbon with the words “Humbertus I dedit” (devoted)

• Istrice (Porcupine)
  • Colors – White, red, blue, and black
  • Insignia – A porcupine on grass

• Leocorno (Unicorn)
  • Colors – White and orange striped with deep blue
  • Insignia – Unicorn rearing up with the motto “Humberti regio gratia” (royal grace)

• Lupa (She-Wolf)
  • Colors – White and black striped with orange
  • Insignia – A she-wolf that nurses the twins

• Valdimontone (Ram)
  • Colors – Red and yellow striped by white
  • Insignia – A ram rearing up on its hind legs with a crown

• Nicchio (Shell)
  • Colors – Azure with yellow and red stripes
  • Insignia – A crowned sea shell surrounded by two coral branches

• Oca (Goose)
  • Colors – White and green striped with red
  • A crowned goose wearing an azure ribbon on its neck with the cross of Savoy

• Onda (Wave)
  • Colors – White and celestial blue
  • Insignia – A swimming dolphin

• Pantera (Panther)
  • Colors – Red and azure striped with white
  • Insignia – A Panther rearing up on its hind leg

• Selva (Forest)
  • Colors – Green and orange striped with white
  • Insignia – A rhinoceros at the foot of an oak tree with hunting tools

• Tartuca (Turtle)
  • Colors – Yellow and deep blue
  • Insignia – A turtle with alternating Savoy knots and daisies

• Torre (Tower)
  • Colors – Crimson red striped with white and azure
  • Insignia – An elephant with a tower mounted on it.

Which one is your favorite?