Video: Getting Ready to Watch Siena’s Palio

At Siena’s Palio horse race, bleacher and balcony seats are expensive, but it’s free to join the masses in the square. And those who are really well-connected get to watch from the comfort of an apartment window. Roberto’s friend, Franco, shared his apartment overlooking the race course…and we’re enjoying the best seats in town. From this vantage point, we watch as the square fills, lots of pageantry unfolds as each neighborhood does its flag-waving thing, and race time approaches. The ritual and the strict traditions are inviolable. The excitement builds.

Siena throws a great party, and they’ve had plenty of practice. During our several days in town, things went smoothly, security was solid yet very low-key, people had a rowdy great time but nothing got broken, and wherever the horses went…so went the unheralded pooper scoopers.

pooper scooper


This is Day 96 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, Siena, and beyond. Find more right here on my travel blog.

Comments

4 Replies to “Video: Getting Ready to Watch Siena’s Palio”

  1. Just a suggestion for future filming: Please steady the camera. With the camera panning around the room/crowd/street scene so quickly, I have to turn off the video because it makes me dizzy.

  2. Steve, you look stressed. Is it the Palio, the heat or just that it’s near the end of your trip. Maybe your concern with the Panthers win. Any way, go have a few cool beers & all your concerns will melt away.
    Happy Travels.

  3. I have seen the race twice from the square. Once it was great, the next time with college students a riot almost broke because the race winners were changed. A very exciting experience though!

    Dana

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