We will be in Florence when the August Palio is on. Has anyone been? Would you recommend it. We have a rental car but have read that trying to park anywhere near Siena is very challenging. Any suggestions.
Thanks.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
We were in Siena in June. There were tour companies offering lodging, tickets, etc. for palio. Parking around Siena wasn't a problem for us, but during palio it's probably a different story.
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
I haven't been to Siena during the Palio but on our last trip instead of staying in Florence we stayed in Siena and took the bus to Florence for the day. You could consider staying in Florence and taking the bus to Siena for the day of the Palio.
Posted by
bergamo
401 posts
It's hot and very crowded and most likely very hard to see the actual race. I mean, if you really want to go, then prepare yourself for a long hot day of waiting for a race that last like 3 minutes in the middle of a piazza that has no shade, but the atmosphere is pretty intense. If you feel not too bothered about it one way or the other, I would go another day to Siena.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
I'm with Claire - few people ACTUALLY see the race! But the parades, displays, etc beforehand are GREAT and as said, the atmosphere is intense, charged, competitive - and if you understand Italian - takes trash-talking to a new level! Parking was almost impossible so we took the train in... Be prepared for pushing, shoving, and holding your ground if you make it into the square!
Ciao,
Ron
Posted by
OP
Oakville, Ontario
41 posts
Thanks all for your input. Very helpful! Have decided to stay in Florence and visit the Uffizi and Accademia instead.
Cathy
Posted by
Asheville, NC, USA
32 posts
I would definitely recommend whatever portion of it you can handle. the more the better. It's an intense, hot, crowded time, but what fun we had 2 years ago, and we didn't even see the final race. We went to the first trial and arrived a long time in advance. Our standing room was right on the inner wall near the rope so we had a perfect view of everything.
It's amazing to see the town change overnight, decorated suddenly with the neighborhood (contrade) flags and then parades and hoopla.
We were staying with a local family so we identified ourselves with them and had a horse to root for. I bought one of the contrade scarves and have a lovely memento now when I wear it.
I'd also recommend learning as much as you can about il Palio before you arrive; it will help you make sense of it all. There's a short movie in a hot theater in town where you can watch a documentary of sorts about it too.
http://www.ilpalio.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena
Go to a contrade dinner if you can and visit the horse's home turf church as well. It is a lot of fun to let yourself get caught up in all the excitement.
We were in Varenna on the day of the final race and watched it on TV, yelling for our horse the whole 3 minutes. Whew.... I'd do it all over again.