Palio is a medieval-style horse race held twice a year in July and August in Siena. Horses and their jockeys ride bareback, dressed in appropriate colors to represent ten of the seventeen neighborhoods in Siena. The race itself circles the main Piazza, which is filled with a layer of dirt, and runs for a few laps. There are pageants, local festivals, and dinners associated with Palio.
by Naomi Smith