The Palio is the most important event in Siena. It takes place over two days, on 2 July and 16 August.

It is a horse race contested by the city's 'contrada' or districts, each with their own emblems and colors. Horses are drawn by lots. The race takes place on clay, laid around the Piazza del Campo. The prize is artwork commissioned each year by different artists. The winning contrada keeps the canvas to hang in their local museum. Pageants, involving hundreds of locals in traditional costume, form part of the festivities. The piazza gets extremely crowded so it is not advised to take young children to the event.

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