Il Palio di Provenzano

Il Palio di Provenzano

Il Palio di Provenzano

Il Palio di Provenzano

The Palio is held twice a year on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August in the Piazza del Campo in Siena. It is a great event which draws thousands of spectators from around the world.

The Palio is run to celebrate the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary near the old houses that belonged to Provenzon Salvani. The holy apparition was called "Madonna di Provenzano" in whose honour the very first Palio was run in 1656. The second Palio was added in August 1701 in honour of the "Madonna dell'Assunta" the patroness and advocate of Siena, and coincided with the Feast of Assumption.

Originally there were about 59 Contrade (districts into which the town is divided), now only 17 remain, ten of which take part in a historical pageant, the Corteo Storico, which precedes the race and the race itself at each Palio (seven by right and three drawn by lots). The victors take the Pallium - a hand painted silk banner.

There is such a thing as an extraordinary Palio which is a third race that may take place during the period between May and September and is associated with events or anniversaries of major importance for the community of Siena; the last one of these was for the millennium.