La Locanda del LoggiatoCharming stay in Bagno Vignoni, Siena

The Palio di Siena is a horse race held twice a year, July 2 in honor of the local Madonna of Provenzano and August 16 in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin. The winner of the race gets a banner (palio) as a prize. The race is three times around the Piazza del Campo in the center of the city. Ten jockeys, or fantini, ride bareback horses. They represent ten contrade, or city wards. The course is challenging and the rules make it more so. For example, because there isn't enough room at the starting line for the ten horses to stand side by side, nine stand at the starting line behind the canapo, the starting rope, while the tenth horse, the rincorsa, stands further back. The rincorsa begins the race before the other horses, so is at full gallop by the time the canapo is dropped for the other horses to start. Some of the turns are hair raising. One is a right-angle turn that has caused the death of many fantini and broken legs for many horses.