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The Palio (July 2nd) 1st horse race
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When:
Jul 2 , 2009
Where: Siena, Piazza del Campo, Italy
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Every year two traditional horse's races take place at Piazza del Campo.
The first is held on the 2nd of July - the holiday of the Madonna of Provenzano and is called Palio di Provenzano or Palio delle Madonna.
The second is held on the 16th of August- the holiday of Virgin Mary and is called Palio dell'Assunta or as most of the people name it - Palio delle contrade.
Competitors from the 17 quarters of the city participate in a colorful race. As in the competition only 10 riders can participate, and as all the 17 quarters want to participate, a lottery chooses three winning quarters that will participate twice. Hence, in every race 10 representatives will participate.
The contest last up to 90 seconds. The contesters that ride without a saddle are required to encircle the Piazza del Campo three times. The faster rider wines the Palio which is, according to the tradition, piece of cloth that symbols the victory. The wining quarter honors the rider.
The preparation for the contest, that entertains thousands of guests, is part of ancient tradition. A day before the contest, the horse is brought into the quarter's church in order to get the Madonna's blessing. On the next day, it is ready with his rider who wears traditional cloths to the prestigious contest.
The Piazza del Campo is decorated with flags of the 17 quarters. The thousands of visitors (it is recommended to make a room reservation in advance) that fill the piazza create enjoyable and competitive atmosphere.
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Watch Video:
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IMPORTANT:
Please note that the details of the event are subject to change.
We strongly recommended that you check with the organizers
before making any travel arrangements.
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Event related information:
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Tourist Information
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Contact:
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infoaptchiancianoterme@terresiena.it
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Tourist Information
Piazza Italia, 67
Phone: 0578 671122-23
fax : 0578 63277
open: from 15th April to 31st October
Mon. - Sat.: 8.00-14.00; 16.00-19.00;
Sunday and holidays: 9.00-12.00;
from 1st November to 14th April
Mon. - Sat.: 8.00-14.00; 15.30-18.30;
Sunday and holidays: closed.
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Online hotel reservations:
background and overview:
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
[Courtesy of The World Factbook]
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 Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. |
Languages:
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area). |
Climate:
Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. |
Capital:
Rome |
Time Zone:
UTC+1 (Summer UTC+2) |
Currency (code):
euro (EUR) |
Call Code:
+39 |
Electric Power:
230V 50Hz |
Tourist office:
Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turismo (ENIT) (Ita |
Tourist website:
Click Here |
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