IL Palio

The Palio di Siena, known locally as Il Palio, is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colors, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards. The winning horse is awarded a hand painted silk banner (the palio!), which is painted by a different artist specially for each race.