10 Competing Contrade: Torre 🐘 • Drago 🐉 • Bruco 🐛 • Pantera 🐆 • Oca 🪿 • Aquila 🦅 • Istrice 🦔 • Tartuca 🐢 • Chiocciola 🐌 • Giraffa 🦒 •
These 6 trials are not qualification races, but rather an opportunity for the horses and jockeys to get to know one another. Remember, this is a bareback horse race, so the riders really need to gain the trust of their mounts. You may view the trials (called prove) for free from with in the Campo (just get there 30 min before), or you can arrange to view them from the stands, balconies, windows, or atop a tower (email me if you are interested in the tower view!). You’ll note that the trials are not run at full speed, because should the unthinkable happen and horse injure itself, that Contrada is OUT. Only the jockeys may be replaced, NOT the horses! These races are opportunities for the jockeys (and Captains, who lead the Palio strategy for their Contrada) to see how the horse handles the mossa (starting ropes), the curves of San Martino (where the mattresses are) and Casato, and the inclines in front of the Palazzo Pubblico.
Pro Tips:
Best photos: the Provaccia (the “ugly trial”), the last of the 6 on the morning of the Palio. The jockeys will be careful this morning to ensure they can compete in the evening Palio, so it’s a great opportunity for photos. Since fewer people attend, you can probably get quite close to the starting ropes too.
Best race to see if you can’t make it to the Palio: the Prova Generale, the evening trial before the Palio race (so on 1 July or 15 August). The Carabinieri (military police) begin this trial, dressed in traditional uniforms and mounted on glorious steeds. They will ride once around the Piazza del Campo and perform a series of salutes, and then…charge! Swords raised, the Carabinieri will run nearly a full lap around the Piazza and exit through Via di Porrione.
Why go to a prova? I’ve done it many times, but standing in the Piazza for hours before the final Palio race is tough; however, you can arrive just 30 minutes before a trial race to listen to the contradaioli singing in praise of their Contrada and deriding their rival. You will feel the energy in the air and realize that this is not any old race, but truly a way of life.
Want to beat the crowds? For the best view of the entire Piazza and a chance to experience the excitement from above, you can watch a trial or the Palio from a medieval tower! Email me for availability; more information here.
If you would like to watch the Prove (trials) online from 13-16 August, you may tune in at https://canale3.tv or https://www.radiosienatv.it. The Historical Procession and Palio itself will be available on La7 from 16.30 Italy time via https://www.la7.it.
Palio Dates and Times to Know:
• Night Trials (le Prove di Notte): 12 August (5.30-7.30)
• Selection Trials (le Batterie): 13 August (7.00)
• Assignment of the Horses (Assegnazione dei Cavalli): 13 August (ca. 13.00)
• 1st Trial (Prima Prova): 13 August (19.15)
• 2nd Trial (Seconda Prova): 14 August (9.00)
• 3rd Trial (Terza Prova): 14 August (19.15)
• 4th Trial (Quarta Prova): 15 August (9.00)
• 5th Trial (Prova Generale): 15 August (19.15)
• Mass for the Jockeys (Messa del Fantino): 16 August (7.45)
• 6th Trial (la Provaccia): 16 August (9.00)
• Blessing of the Horse (Benedizione del Cavallo): 16 August (14.30)
• Historical Procession (Corteo Storico) leaves from each Contrada (going to Duomo then Campo)
• Piazza del Campo closes: 16 August (17.45)
• Palio - si corre! 16 August (19.00)
