Palio festival - Italy

City of Siena which is located in middle of Italy is crazy at traditional palio festival in July 2nd and August 16th. In medieval, Siena was independent republic and Siena was not that peaceful due to battle with near citys. Especially, battle with Firenze which was rival country lasted hundreds years. Siena won at Montaperti war in 1260 september 4th and got prosperity. However, since attacking of Firenze, Siena was incorporated at Tuscany in 16century. Palio festival was started to celebrate of Montaperti war and it lasts so far and shows old glory of Siena.

Palion which means horse race without saddle is come from Latin 'Pallium' and it means rectangle flag which is given to race winner. Palio is a race that among 17 contrades, only 10 contrades can participate in the race. Contrade was military machine in medieval. 7 contrades which cannot participate in the race do race in next time and extra 3 teams can participate by sortilege. The race starts at 7:30p.m and finishes after 90 seconds.

However, traditional Palio festival is more famous for before festival with medieval traditional clothes. From 4:00p.m, 10 contrades parade up and down through alleys with medieval knight clothes. In earnest, Palio festival starts when parades arrive at Piazza de Campo at 5:00p.m. Each parades arrive at Piazza de Campo and people who wait before noon shout and the shouting is going to crazy.

In 2 hours, parades throw flag and do many events and when they go out, the race is starting. 10 riders arrive at start line and then the open space is going to silence. The race is this; they go around Piazza de Campo 3 times. In this short 90 seconds, the race is finished. It is very short moment but in this short moment is extremly excited and it is hard to imagine without no experience. Not only love to their contrade, but also batting increase the exciting.

With shart sign, the festival is going to madness. Although it is short time, there is last 1year in the sweat. Rider can hit other horses so that after the race contrades sometimes fight each others. But polic do not try to stop the fighting. Because the fighting after the race is also part of history. The winner get honor and is regarded to hero.

Palio festival became civil festival at 1482 and Siena horse racing was started from 1275. It has very long history.