The Palio di Siena is a historic horse race held twice annually in Siena, Italy, on July 2 and August 16. Featuring ten bareback riders and horses, each representing one of the city’s seventeen contrade, or districts, the event is a vibrant display of tradition and competition. The July 2 race, known as the Palio di Provenzano, honors the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion linked to an icon from the Terzo Camollia. The August 16 race, called the Palio dell’Assunta, celebrates the Assumption of Mary.
