|
|
|
|
|
| |
Siena's Palio horse race takes place every
year on July 2nd and August 16th. In July, the Palio is run to celebrate
the holy apparition of the Virgin Mary, called "Madonna di Provenzano" in
whose honor the first Palio was run in 1656. In August, the Palio was run
for the first time in 1701 in honor of the "Madonna dell'Assunta" who
protected the Sienese militia at the famous battle of Montaperti against
the Florentines.
The Palio has a secular historical tradition strictly connected with the
origin of the ”Contrade” in Siena, the districts into which the town is
divided. The "Contrade" are agonistic spectacular institutions having each
a seat, an oratory, coat of arms, appellations, titles of nobility,
emblems and colors, official representatives, festivities, patron Saints,
protectors, their own delimited territories and their own population.
Originally the "Contrade" were fifty-nine, at least so it seems, now only
seventeen exist, but only ten of which take part in the historical pageant
and in the race at each Palio.
Here is a list of their names and emblems:
 |
|
Aquila
(Eagle) |
 |
Chiocciola
(Snail) |
 |
Onda
(Wave) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Pantera
(Panther) |
 |
Selva
(Forest) |
 |
Tartuca
(Tortoise) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Civetta
(Owl) |
 |
Leocorno
(Unicorn) |
 |
Nicchio
(Shell) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Torre
(Tower) |
 |
Valdimontone (Ram) |
 |
Bruco (Caterpillar) |
|
|
|
. |
 |
|
Drago
(Dragon) |
 |
Giraffa
(Giraffe) |
 |
Istrice
(Porcupine) |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Lupa
(She-wolf ) |
 |
Oca
(Goose) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The preparations for this
parade are slow and methodic like a liturgical procedure. Four days before
the event, trial takes place in the "Piazza" which is turned into a racing
track .
Siena's Palio Schedule
29 JUNE & 13 AUGUST 7:00 a.m. - Presentation of the horses that
will participate in the trials to be selected to run in the Palio
(batterie).
29 JUNE & 13 AUGUST 9:00 a.m. - The trials begin (tratta). It is a
process by which the horses are matched to the ten Contrade that will
participate in the Palio. The horses, after having been examined by
veterenarians and considered to be in ideal condition, are divided into
groups of 5-7 horses for "batterie" or trials and then allowed to run
around the dirt (tufo) track three times to determine if they are suitable
to run on this type of track. At the end of the trials, the Captains of
the Contrade, in the presence of the Mayor, get together to choose the 10
most suitable horses.
29 JUNE & 13 AUGUST 12.00/13.00 p.m. - On a platform assembled in
front of the Municipal Building (Palazzo Pubblico) the drawing for the
horses to be assigned to each of the contrade takes place. After each
horse is assigned, the "Barbaresco" goes and gets the horse which was
drawn and takes it back to the Contrada's stall, accompanied by the
members of the contrada (contradaioli).
29 JUNE 19.30 p.m. & 13 AUGUST 19.00 p.m. - The first of the six
trial runs preceeding the Palio. By means of these trials the condition of
both the horse and the jockey (fantino) can be verified. For each trial
the horse is accompanied to the "Entrone" (courtyard entrance of the
Municipal Building) from the Contrada's stall by a large group of contrada
memebers who often sing traditional songs. In order to see the trials, it
is necessary to get a place in the square or in the stands before the
track is cleaned "fatto pulito", that is, cleared out by the Police force.
It is also the same for all the other trials.
Each contrada chooses a jockey that can be changed at anytime up until the
morning of the Palio. Only the horse cannot be changed. The horses enter
the starting block in the order that the contrade will enter into the
Piazza the evening of the Palio for the procession.
30 JUNE & 14 AUGUST 9.00 a.m.- Second trial run. The horse line up
at the starting line is the reverse of the previous evening.
30 JUNE 19.30 p.m. & 14 AUGUST 19.00 p.m. - Third trial run. The horse
line up is the same order as the assigning of the horses to the contrade.
1 JULY & 15 AUGUST 9.00 a.m. - Forth trail run. The horse line up
is the reverse of the previous evening.
1 JULY 19.30 p.m. & 15 AUGUST 19.00 p.m. - "Prova generale" or
dress rehersal. The horse line up is according to the number that the
horses were assigned on their ears for the drawing.
1 JULY & 15 AUGUST 20.30 p.m. approximately - Dress Rehersal Dinner.
In all the neighborhoods of the Contradas who partecipate in the Palio
race, the leaders, contrada members, guests and even tourists gather for a
dinner in honor of the protagonists of the Palio. At the head table the
jokeys is present with the leaders of the contrada.
There are many songs, speaches and toasts made for a successfull race.
After dinner, the Captains and their assistants go to meet the other
leaders of the contradas with whom they are friends to make secret
agreements to favor either their own victory or that of their friends
contrada or to hinder their rival: all on a handshake.
2 JULY & 16 AUGUST 7.45 a.m. - In the Chapel in front of the
Municipal Building, the Archbishop celebrates a Mass for all the jockeys,
called "La Messa del Fantino".
2 JULY & 16 AUGUST 9.00 a.m. - Last trial run. It is called the
"Provaccia" because there is a general indifference by the Contradas.
After this trial, all the Captains and the jockeys meet in the City Hall
to enroll the jockey for each Contrada and to present the silk shirts that
the jockeys will wear for the race. After the official assignment of the
jockeys has been made they cannot be changed.
2 JULY 15.30 p.m. & 16 AUGUST 15.00 p.m. - Benediction of the horse
and the jockey. After the members of the historical parade get dressed up
in their costumes, in the Contrade that are participating in the Palio,
the ritual of the benediction of the horse and the jockey in their
respective contrada churches takes place. The priest, concludes the
mysterious rite, with a wish that is almost an order: Go and return
victorious!
After which, the historical parade participants of the Contradas and of
the city, parede across the old town center, making stops and waving flags
in: Piazza Salimbeni, "Casino dei Nobili", in front of the Chigi Saracini
Palace, and in Piazza del Duomo.
2 JULY 16.30 p.m. & 16 AUGUST 15.50 p.m. - The procession leaves
the courtyard of Palazzo del Governo in Piazza del Duomo, and heads for
the Piazza del Campo.
2 JULY 17.20 p.m. & 16 AUGUST 16.50 p.m. - The historical parade
enters the square, according to the order of the first trial run.
2 JULY 19.30 p.m. & 16 AUGUST 19.00 p.m. - The Palio banner is
hoisted up onto the Judges Stand while the final flag waving ritual of the
seventeen flag wavers takes place.
The jockeys are dressed with the colors of the quarter, wear a metal
helmet and "ride" without a saddle. Tension is very high in the square,
it's a magical moment.
After the start, the horses are launched in a furious gallop, which can be
violent and dangerous. The horse race is very fast: just one minute and a
half to complete 3 laps around the square. The Palio finishes in the
streets of the victorious "contrada" where people celebrate the happy
event in a most joyous way. Everybody can participate in the rejoicing.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
