Palio di Siena
2 July 2026 — The districts are racing! Who will reach the stars first?
The Palio di Siena is a horse race with medieval roots between neighbourhoods of the Italian city of Siena. These neighbourhoods are called contrade (the city's historic districts); ten of the seventeen take part in each race. It is held twice a year, on 2 July and 16 August, in the central square, Piazza del Campo, which is covered with soil for the occasion. Riders race bareback, and the race itself lasts only about a minute and a half, but it is preceded by days of ceremonies. Before the start, each horse is taken to its district's church for a blessing, and the historical parade of flag-bearers in period costume is as spectacular as the race. The winner receives the palio, a painted silk banner. The flag-bearers are famous for their skill in tossing and catching flags high in the air. Both races are dedicated to the Virgin Mary: the July race honours the Madonna of Provenzano and the August race the Assumption (Assunta), which is why each palio traditionally bears an image of the Virgin.
Flying across the sky: An ethereal, bluish-silver figure made of luminous dots and fine lines, like a constellation: a bareback rider crouched low on a galloping horse, racing across the night sky and leaving a faint trail of stars
Sources
Positions in Astronativa are astronomically exact. The interpretation is for inspiration. · Glossary · Terms · Privacy · Thank you