Palio festival tips

The Contrade of Siena are 17 but only 10 run the Palio on July 2nd and on August 16th.

Which one of the 17 Contrade do they run it?


The seven Contrade that have not held in July/August last year run by 'law' while the other 3 missing to 10 by 'lot' among the remaining 10.

How do they choice the last?


in much secrecy in Palazzo Pubblico where the captains of the 17 Contrade meet and with the help of a secular tool and a complex ritual ensure 100% impartiality of choice. Once the Contrade were extracted       - around 7.00 p.m. - all the people wait in the Square that a municipal employer exhibits the flags of the Contrade extracted from the windows of the Palazzo Pubblico. Each 'expousure' is accompained by shouts of joy of the contradioli's (people who belong to a Contrada) kissed by fortune and, in some cases, by the 'silence' of the people of the rival Contrade.

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Palio's schedule on August

13th:
h. 1.00 p.m.: “tratta” (selection by lot of the horses)

h. 7.15 p.m.: first trial

14th:
h. 9.00 a.m.: second trial

In the afternoon, before the trial race, The Procession of Candles takes place in which the Palio banner is brought to the Cathefral.

h. 7.15 p.m.: third trial

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Palio's schedule on July

June 29th:

h. 1.00 p.m.: “tratta” (selection by lot of the horses)

h. 7.45 p.m.: first trial

June 30th:

h. 09.00 a.m.: second trial

h. 7.4 p.m.: third trial

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