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Il Palio delle Contrade - Il Palio di Siena
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Even if
there are few indirect testimonies regarding the
origins of the first physiognomy of the Palio of
Siena, or "Carriera" as the race is
called, it is certain that this festival, the most
popular and famous in the city, existed before 1310,
the year in which a document of the General Council
of the municipality consecrated the official
institution of the Palio, to be traveled on August
16 in honor of the Blessed Virgin.
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And if originally the Palio of mid-August was only the crowning of a popular
festival, after the Battle of Montaperti in 1260, with the victory of the
Sienese over the Florentines, it assumed an ever greater importance and also a
political significance.
 Only
in 1656, however, was officially recognized the establishment of a second Palio,
the Palio of the Contrade, which was to be run on July 2 in honor of Our
Lady of Provenzano. The Sienese districts, about eighty, then reduced
until the present 17, had then as today not only a representative function, but
their purpose was not exhausted exclusively in the preparation and
implementation of the Palio. In fact, it is more in the minds of the people who
live there than a simple folklore show or a historical costume re-enactment.
 Today
as yesterday, the Palio is the feast of Siena and its 17 districts that compete
with each other, enemies or allies, the coveted painted silk cloth: a kind of
ritual whose Siena, from the time of the draw of the districts, reveals its
truest face, to live with enthusiasm and nostalgic passion, a wonderful dream of
past greatness. Massa, or the start of the race is the most exciting
moment is complex of the Palio. The 10 jockeys, who are riding the beautiful
Berber horses, are also excited and eager to try their hand at the race. As they
leave the Entrone, the portal that leads into the courtyard of the
podesta, they receive the ox's nerb that serves to incite the horse and
beat the jockeys and horses adversaries. The participants start at the starting
point: Massa, the canapo for the official start, does not touch the
ground that already 10 horses have launched. The enthusiasm of the people who
are part of the different districts is uncontainable and involves everyone.
The Palio of Siena, is normally held twice a year: on July 2 the Palio of
Provenzano (in honor of Our Lady of Provenzano) and August 16 the
Palio of the Assumption (in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption.
It may happen that to commemorate special events (such as the 1969 conquest
of the Moon) or anniversaries of the city or national events considered
relevant and relevant (such as the centenary of the Unification of Italy)
the city of Siena may hold an extraordinary Palio between May and September,
as happened the last time in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium.
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Ostelli Siena
Ostelli Italia
Auberges de Jeunesse Italie
Hotel Siena
Carte de Sienne
Karte von Siena
Mapa Siena
Map of Siena
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Carte d'Italie
Karte von Italien Mapa Italia Map of Italy |
