02/07/2008

Hours

All day

Descriptions

At 7.45 a.m., Piazza Il Campo: "Mass of the Jockey" celebrated by the Archbishop A. Buoncristiani in the chapel of the Square. At 9.00 a.m., Piazza Il Campo: "Provaccia" (last trial). At 10.30 a.m., Palazzo Comunale: marking of the jockeys. From 2.30 p.m., in each of the 17 Contrade: clothing ceremony of the 'Comparsa' (those taking part in the parade) and in the 10 Contrade which participate in the race: blessing of the horse and departure of the 'Comparse' who will go to the courtyard of Palazzo del Governo, in Piazza del Duomo after passing  through the streets of the centre to pay homage to some of the important Sienese institutions.  At 4.20 p.m., Palazzo del Governo, Piazza Duomo: departure  of the "Historic Procession" towards Via del Casato di Sotto to enter the Square. At 4.40 p.m., Piazza Il Campo: the "clearance" of the track starts.  At 5.15 p.m., parade of the drape (Drappello) of the Carabinieri on horseback. At 5.20 p.m., Piazza Il Campo: Entrance of the "Historic Procession". At 7.30 p.m., Piazza Il Campo: "Palio", the horses come out from the courtyard for the race, at the explosion of a firecracker.  After the race, the winning Contrada reaches the Basilica of S. Maria in Provenzano rejoicing and after the celebrations continue in the district and in the streets of the city centre.

Information

City of Siena. Tel. 0577 292206 - Fax. 0577 292481

WebSite

www.comune.siena.it

E-mail

palio@comune.siena.it