Palio di Siena Tour

Tour Details

Colorful flags and banners fluttering in the wind, riders trying to lead their swift steeds to the finish line, a contagious, vibrant feeling amongst all the spectators who stoically wait in the stands under the hot Tuscan summer sun... This is the Palio di Siena, Italy's most famous horse race. This competition, dating back to the Middle Ages, takes place twice a year in the historic Piazza del Campo.

We'll meet at the Piazza Salimbeni at the designated time to discover the anecdotes and curiosities about this legendary equestrian event. We'll start the tour by exploring the medieval streets of Siena, diving into this ancient tradition, and passing by iconic sites like the Piazza del Campo.

This legendary square is even more stunning since it has no stands, as you'll see on this guided tour. During the horse races, this large public space is filled with grandstands for the masses of spectators following the course of the competitions. Did you know the Palio di Siena horse races are held twice a year on July 2 and August 16?

As we walk around the square, we'll learn about the medieval origins of these equestrian competitions, in which the contradas (districts) of Siena compete against each other. Each rider wears a uniform with the colors of their district and competes for the pallium, a painted banner made of silk, from which the race gets its name. There is no greater honor for a jockey representing his contrada than to receive the winner's pallium.

During the tour, we'll ride through several contradas and see the fountains where children are typically baptized, many of which end up participating as riders in the Palio di Siena when they're older. Then, we'll visit the Museum of the Contradas, where you'll see a large display of the uniforms, banners, and flags used in various horse races throughout history.

After finishing our guided tour of the museum, we'll return to the starting point and conclude this tour 2 hours later.

Important Info

This walking tour of Siena focuses on the history of the Palio di Siena, covering its origin and main curiosities. However, the tour does not include attending the horse race itself, which takes place twice a year: on July 2 and August 16. In the days leading up to these dates, the guided walking tour does not take place either, as the Piazza del Campo is occupied by the stands and other preparations for the races.