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EveryParampara

Traditions of Siena

A Tuscan hill city whose Palio, a bareback horse race round the Piazza del Campo, shapes the neighbourhood loyalties of the year.

Siena is divided into seventeen contrade, neighbourhoods with their own flags, colours, churches and fountains. The Palio di Siena, run twice each summer, is the event for which the contrade prepare all year. The city is also known for its Gothic cathedral and its panforte.

Siena: A photograph taken of the Piazza del Campo in Siena with tower Torre del Mangia and landscape with hills in background.
Photo: Massimo Catarinella, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Palio

On 2 July and 16 August, ten horses and riders, one for each of ten contrade chosen by lot, race three laps round the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. Before the race, each horse is blessed in its contrada church, and the flag-throwers display their skill. The prize is a painted banner, the palio.

At the table

Panforte, a dense cake of nuts and candied fruit, ricciarelli, almond biscuits, and cantucci with vin santo are sweets. Pici, thick hand-rolled pasta with garlic and tomato, and Chianina beef are served. The contrada holds long communal dinners in the streets, with long tables, on the night before the Palio.

Signature traditions of Siena

Palio di SienaThe horse race.

Also part of it, and being written: Contrade of Siena (The districts.), Panforte (The sweet.), Ricciarelli (The biscuit.).

A trail idea for Siena

  1. Piazza del Campo Sit in the shell.
  2. Siena Cathedral See the marble floor.
  3. Contrada museums See the banners.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇮🇹 Siena, ItalyPalio di SienaIl Palio A bareback horse race held twice a year in Siena's Piazza del Campo, representing the city's historic wards.Festival 🇮🇹 Siena, ItalyFerragosto A public holiday on 15 August marking the Assumption of Mary and the traditional start of the Italian summer break.Festival · Lunch 🇮🇹 Siena, ItalyPalio Traditional Italian competitions where local districts race horses, donkeys, or boats to win prizes and pride.Festival

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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