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THE PALIO DI Siena is one of Italy’s most famous sporting events.
The horse race, held in honour of the Virgin Mary, takes place in Siena – located in the Tuscany region – twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August.
Jockeys representing 10 of the city’s 17 districts (contrade) compete in the race around a course built in the Piazza del Campo, the central square.
Originally, there were about 59 districts but only 17 remain, 10 of which take part in the historical pageant – seven by right and three drawn by lots.
The bareback horse race has been around for centuries and is very popular among locals and tourists alike, with thousands of people attending the event.
Irish photographer Donal Moloney was at the race last month, capturing some great images of the action.
All images: Donal Moloney
Speaking to TheJournal.ie about his experience, Moloney says the race is extremely important to locals, with one person telling him: ”Palio is life.”
“Palio has been on my bucket list for many years, but I’ve always feared arriving and not being able to get the camera angles I want. The spectacle lasts just 90 seconds but the square in Siena is used for trials and ceremony the entire week leading up to the event.”
Moloney says a lottery system is used to match the jockeys (fantini) with the horses they will ride.
Horses are only assigned by the mayor three days prior by lottery … Thirty horses are used in trials on the Thursday, of which 10 are chosen. They then gallop around the square twice a day in preparation. Only then do the jockeys don the colour of the contrada they represent.
Recalling the atmosphere of race day, Moloney says he was “pumping with adrenaline”.
“It’s mayhem as I beat my way as close as I can to him. Men are shouting and crying with joy as they greet their hero. I’m suddenly part of their contrada and I end up leaving the scene with them to the church where both jockey and horse will be given benediction by the parish priest … You couldn’t make it up,” he notes.
More of Moloney’s work can be viewed on his website or Facebook page.
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beatiful
Beautiful photos, the old city of Siena is a wonderful place to visit.
Pretty cool! It’s no Castletown Donkey Derby though
Horses can win the race even if they lose their jockey. As long as they still have that plume in their head, they can win.
Stunning pics Donal, excellent work!
Incredible photos!
Just like Limerick
Wow! On our bucket list as well
STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY NOW!
@Time to Wake Up: I’d put this on the lower level of animal cruelty compared to say Bull fighting or industrial pig farming. I’m sure these horses are well treated by their owners
@Time to Wake Up: Yes please, I’d love a bacon sandwich
@Time to Wake Up:can’t see any cruelty in article or photos-Explain your comment please
@Matt Connolly: He is the Journals resident troll.
@Time to Wake Up: It’s a sport, traditional and harder and more dangerous to the riders. How come there is always a nuisance post from a moan who probably never attended a horse race in Ireland.
Nothing like some traditional animal abuse – it’s really uplifting.
Had the privilege to eat with the winning horse many years ago
@Thomas Harrington: and then of course I probably ate the winning horse in more recent times
Fantastic pictures. However, the caption under the first picture says it is a man enjoying the race. That man is actually Jonathan Bartoletti, the winning jockey. Also, the horses are matched with the contradas through a lottery type system but the jockeys are free to choose the contrada they ride for themselves. I love Palio and have lived in Siena for 3 years now. It is such an incredible event.
Amazing place must go back
There is a fantastic documentary called “Palio” which I think is on Netflix. Highly recommended.
Just checked out some videos of this event, and it’s absolutely horrific – jockeys being thrown off, horses tumbling and falling at an extremely dangerous bend. Of course, it should be banned. In one video, a jockey was thrown and then a horse tripped over him and skidded along the ground. There have been fatalities over the years, but that doesn’t seem to deter people who are just out for kicks and excitement at the expense of animals. Sickening.
Was there, beautiful town, didn’t see any horse racing.
Only when you see a Palio can one understand the real meaning of community(contrade) rivalry.
oooh – another PETA trap – 2 in one morning. I think this one will net more.
have your say