Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards: this is the Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio), a horse race that is held in Siena, Tuscany twice a year. The Palio held on July 2 is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia. The second round of the palio is held on 16 August and known as Palio dell’Assunta in honour of the Assumption of Mary.
Please note that both races of the Palio – on 2 July and 16 August – have been cancelled to avoid the gathering of a large number of people, in compliance with the safety rules against the spread of COVID-19.
