Siena Palio

Extra Palio in Siena Will Commemorate 100th Anniversary of the End of WWI

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Heads up! There will be an extra Palio – a Palio Straordinario – in Siena on October 20.

This extraordinary event will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Siena’s City Council approved the measure for a Palio Straordinario on 14 September.

The 10 Contrade (out of 17) that will run during the Extra Palio are:

  • Torre
  • Lupa
  • Chiocciola
  • Oca
  • Drago
  • Tartuga
  • Selva
  • Civetta
  • Nicchio
  • Giraffa

The “Extra Palio” is not necessarily a marketing ploy. Rather, it is not a brand new one. The last time the Tuscan city held an extra Palio was in 2000 to mark the new Millennium. The last, and only other, time Siena held a Palio Straordinario in the month of October was in 1745. Here’s some interesting Palio Straordinario history from Siena News (in Italiano).

For more information about the Extra Palio, I found these details helpful. And while the event is free, there are ticket brokers who sell access to viewing spots above and around the Piazza del Campo.

Here’s a video of the bareback, breakneck, chaotic, crowd-pleasing horse race from 16 August, one of the two dates that the event is run each year.

Last updated on May 2nd, 2021

Post first published on October 5, 2018

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