I took a walk to the Lupa contrada on Wednesday to see how the members, the Lupaioli, were celebrating their historic Palio win. Quick refresher: Lupa (She-wolf) is one of 17 contrade, or districts, in Siena, Italy. The Palio is the city’s medieval, traditional horse race that takes place twice a year: July 2 and …
I never thought I would get choked up watching a horse being blessed. I stood in the back of a few hundred Dragon contrada members, watching as a priest sprinkled holy water on the horse. Then he ordered him to “Go and come back a winner!” Such is the tradition of the Palio of Siena. …
I stood in awe of the crowd gathered in the Piazza del Campo in Siena Wednesday evening, June 30. Thousands sitting in the bleachers, standing in the center of the piazza, others on balconies or hunched at their windows in the buildings that line the piazza. I think come Saturday, as I head to the …
Continue reading Palio Week: Contrade, Horses, Dinners, Race Trials
It's that time again. I’m going back to Italy, back to Siena, where I spent six weeks last year at a language school. I plan on continuing my intensive studies there but my first item of business is experiencing the Palio. This became a bucket list item last December. The Palio is the city's historic, …
Mauro Faleri was 18 years old the first time he participated in the “Passegiata storica,” the ceremony before the start of The Palio, the historic horse race held twice a year in Siena. He is a member of the Torre contrada, or neighborhood. “I was very proud,” he tells me. “It was fantastic. It was …
Continue reading The Palio of Siena: Tradition, Passion and Glory
December 1 in Siena is a holy day for the city. The Sienese celebrate their patron saint, Sant’Ansano with a march by members of the 17 contrade from the Piazza del Campo to the Duomo, where they then celebrate mass. For me, this was an experience like none other. It is filled with history and tradition. …
1cannolo, 2cannoli 