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Siena During the Palio

Posted by (Dallas) on

Has anyone actually been in Siena during the Palio? Or the week leading up to it? We are planning a trip to Tuscany next summer with 2 teens and are going to be in the area for the July 2 Palio. Rick makes it look delightful, but we realize that is probably not the experience of a random tourist just showing up.

We'd love to hear the honest thoughts. Should we try to go? Should we avoid it altogether? Should we just go one of the days before the race? Is there a way to pay to have a "friend and local tour guide" to get the VIP treatment? Is it worth the trouble and the crowds?

My husband and I have previously been to Siena with a backroads tour that included a behind the scenes tour of a Contrade (Il Bruco), but this would be a first time for the kids.

Posted by
288 posts

Yes, you should go. We attended the July 2, 2023, Palio and were there for two months before the race. The excitement builds daily as the race nears. For me it was a once in a lifetime experience. My husband would probably go many more times. Not sure what you mean by VIP treatment. Unfortunately, unless you are willing to stand in the center of the Campo (think Time's Square on New Years) the price for tickets to sit in the bleachers is expensive (300-400 Euros). I would recommend you learn as much as you can about the Palio and the competition between the Contrade. We just returned from Siena and the excitement is already building as they have just selected the final Contrade to run this July. Here are a few sites to help you. Also, use the "search" on the top of this page and you will find more discussions on the topic.

https://www.ilpalio.org/palioenglish4.htm

https://www.ilpalio.org/palio_schedules.htm

https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/guide-to-the-palio-of-siena

Posted by
8377 posts

The Search box here (top left blue) may give you more replies than a single question post. It is often reported to be like New Years Eve in NYC, with it impossible to move for several hours, even if you decide to leave. I would not pay any amount for a ticket unless I knew that it came with a bathroom, like the high prices set by restaurants with terraces or sidewalk cafes. Are you aware how short the race itself is? You could miss it while in the bathroom.

Posted by
204 posts

We were not there to attend the Palio but we did happen to be there in the week leading up to one. So while we didn't get to stand in huge crowd we did encounter many different activities that are part of the lead up - contradas practicing, parades, etc. It was a real treat to take it all in.

Posted by
17 posts

Just got back from Siena. Curious does anyone video/Youtube the race? Would like to see it even if we are not there.

Posted by
697 posts

We were in Siena in 2014 one or two days after the July race. It was fun walking around and seeing the folks wearing their neighborhood’s bandanas. We also saw an impromptu parade of people from the victorious contrada walking through the streets singing and cheering. We made a point of not being there the day of the race.
You can search YouTube for “Palio” and see the race from July 2024, including the massive crowds (too big for me!)

Posted by
55 posts

Yes, we’ve been there twice. Both times we had a great time. This was 21 years ago and 16 years ago. We didn’t have reserved seats, just stood in the piazza. The teens will love it. I will get a reserved seat if I ever go again. We stayed outside of Sienna on a bus route so we didn’t have to park.

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