Palio of Siena medieval horse race

Aug 16, 2013

Palio of Siena medieval horse race

Jerry Jackson 0 Comment World horse racing, Italy, Palio

Thousands of tourists gather on the Il Campo square in Siena for the Palio of Siena race. Every year on July 2 and August 16, almost without fail since the mid-1600s, 10 riders compete bareback around Siena’s shell-shaped central square in a bid to win the Palio, a silk banner depicting the Madonna and child.

: Riders take part in a practice race a day before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 15, 2013. The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio), is a horse race held twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena, in which jockeys ride bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders take part in a training on August 13, 2013 prior the race of the Palio in Siena. The Palio of Siena race (known locally simply as Il Palio) is held twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena, in which jockeys ride bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: A child of the Contrada of Goose looks from a window horses during riders’ trainings in Siena on August 13, 2013. The Palio of Siena race (known locally simply as Il Palio) is held twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena, in which jockeys ride bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Priest Francesco Rinaldi (L) baptizes a child as a new member of the Contrada of Forest on August 15, 2013. The Palio of Siena race (known locally simply as Il Palio) is held twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena, in which jockeys ride bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Thousands of tourists gather on the Il Campo square in Siena on August 14, 2013. The Palio of Siena race (known locally simply as Il Palio) is held twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena, in which jockeys ride bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Jockey Giovanni Atzeni of the Onda (Wave) parish competes during the fourth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Alessio Migheli (R) of the Torre (Tower) parish leads the pack during the fourth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. Every year on July 2 and August 16, almost without fail since the mid-1600s, 10 riders compete bareback around Siena’s shell-shaped central square in a bid to win the Palio, a silk banner depicting the Madonna and child. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Polonski, a horse belonging to jockey Alessio Migheli of the Torre (Tower) parish, is led by the “Barbaresco” before the fourth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Sebastiano Murtas (R) of the Tartuca (Turtle) parish leads ahead of Giuseppe Zedde of the Aquila (Eagle) parish, during the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Mocambo, a horse belonging to jockey Antonio Siri of the Bruco parish, is led by the “Barbaresco” after the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Phalena, a horse belonging to jockey Silvano Mulas of the Chiocciola (Snail) parish, is led by the “Barbaresco” after the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Horses are led by the “Barbarescos” of each parish at the end of the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Sebastiano Murtas of the Tartuca (Turtle) parish leads the pack as they compete during the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. Every year on July 2 and August 16, almost without fail since the mid-1600s, 10 riders compete bareback around Siena’s shell-shaped central square in a bid to win the Palio, a silk banner depicting the Madonna and child. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Sebastiano Murtas of the Tartuca (Turtle) parish competes during the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. Every year on July 2 and August 16, almost without fail since the mid-1600s, 10 riders compete bareback around Siena’s shell-shaped central square in a bid to win the Palio, a silk banner depicting the Madonna and child. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Giuseppe Zedde of the Aquila (Eagle) parish competes during the fifth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. Every year on July 2 and August 16, almost without fail since the mid-1600s, 10 riders compete bareback around Siena’s shell-shaped central square in a bid to win the Palio, a silk banner depicting the Madonna and child. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: The “Cencio” is carried during a historical parade before the Palio of Siena horse race August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Giovanni Atzeni of the Onda (Wave) parish competes during the Palio of Siena horse race August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Jonathan Bartoletti (R) of the Lupa (Wolf) parish leads ahead of jockey Giovanni Atzeni of the Onda (Wave) parish during the Palio of Siena horse race August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockeys of the ten parishes are seen at the start of the Palio of Siena horse race August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Jonathan Bartoletti (4th R) of the Lupa (Wolf) parish leads after the start of the Palio of Siena horse race August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Giovanni Atzeni (R) of the Onda (Wave) parish leads ahead of jockey Jonathan Bartoletti of the Lupa (Wolf) parish during the Palio of Siena horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Supporters of the Onda (Wave) parish celebrate with jockey Giovanni Atzeni (C, bottom) with the “Cencio” after winning the Palio of Siena horse race, in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Supporters of the Onda (Wave) parish celebrate with jockey Giovanni Atzeni (L, in blue) after winning the Palio of Siena horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Supporters of the Onda (Wave) parish pull jockey Giovanni Atzeni off his horse after he won the Palio of Siena horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Jonathan Bartoletti (R) of the Lupa (Wolf) parish leads ahead of Jockey Giovanni Atzeni of the Onda (Wave) parish (C) and Francesco Caria of the Oca (Goose) parish during the Palio of Siena horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Giovanni Atzeni (top) of the Onda (Wave) parish celebrates with Onda supporters after winning the Palio of Siena horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Jockey Giovanni Atzeni of the Onda (Wave) parish celebrates after winning the Palio of Siena horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: A member of the Onda (Wave) parish prepares for the parade before the Palio horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: A member of the Onda (Wave) parish prepares for the parade before the Palio horse race in Siena August 16, 2013. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Porto Alabe, a horse belonging to jockey Sebastiano Murtas of the Tartuca (Turtle) parish, is led by the “Barbaresco” before the fourth of six trial horse races in Del Campo square in Siena August 15, 2013. Every year on July 2 and August 16, almost without fail since the mid-1600s, 10 riders compete bareback around Siena’s shell-shaped central square in a bid to win the Palio, a silk banner depicting the Madonna and child. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Rider of the Contrada of Wave Giovanni Tittia (R) wins the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders compete in the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. The Palio medieval race is held twice a year in Siena with jockeys riding bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: The Palio is carried on special wagon pulled by oxen prior to the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Rider of Contrada of Wave Giovanni Atzeni (R) passes the horse of Contrada of Shell to win the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders compete in the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. The Palio medieval race is held twice a year in Siena with jockeys riding bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders compete in the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. The Palio medieval race is held twice a year in Siena with jockeys riding bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Supporters of the Contrada of Wave celebrate the victory of the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Supporters of the Contrada of Wave congratulate the rider Giovanni Atzeni after winning the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Supporters of the Contrada of Wave celebrate the victory of the Palio horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: A horse is blessed by a priest of the Contrada de “Lupa” (She-Wolf) before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio), is a horse race held twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena, in which jockeys ride bareback around a makeshift race course set up in the city’s central square. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: A horse (L) is guided inside the church of Saint Rocco to be blessed by the priest before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 16, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders take part in a practice race a day before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 15, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: People gather to watch riders take part in a practice race a day before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 15, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders take part in a practice race a day before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 15, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

: Riders take part in a practice race a day before the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena on August 15, 2013. (Fabio Muzzi/Getty Images)

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