Imagine a small, Medieval Tuscan town festooned with colorful flags draped from windows and balconies or carried by excited fans through a maze of narrow streets, alleys, and contrade (neighborhoods). There is a palpable buzz of excitement as people yell good-natured insults, talk strategy, and sing catchy tunes that encourage participation. The entire town is waiting for the start of Siena’s Palio, a 90-second bareback horse race around the Piazza del Campo.
Over 500 years of tradition are behind this very moment in
Siena.
We were in Siena just last September, and that beautiful
Tuscan town was, without a doubt, a favorite with those traveling on the Girls’
Trip to Italy. As we were making our way to the Piazza del Campo and learning
about the Palio, something incredibly special happened … we were introduced to
Rosanna Bonelli. In 1957 this stately, elegant woman was the first (and only) female to race as a jockey in the Palio.
It was a moment filled with layers upon layers of history.
And this year—for the first time since WWII—Siena’s Palio
has been cancelled.
2020.
The year time stands still.
2 comments:
I'd hoped we could have been to Siena on one of our tours but it was not so. Thank you for sharing! Have a wonderful week!
Yes, it very much feels as though time is standing still! I actually knew about the Palio (although I don't know much about Italy) from reading a description of it in Winds of War. It was such a vivid description, it has stayed in my mind all these years.
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