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.
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
Also part of it, and being written: Contrade of Siena (The districts.), Panforte (The sweet.), Ricciarelli (The biscuit.).
A trail idea for Siena
- Piazza del Campo Sit in the shell.
- Siena Cathedral See the marble floor.
- Contrada museums See the banners.
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.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Palio di Siena: Mirco, CC BY-SA 2.0, source