Events
Siena and Surroundings
The Best Western Hotel San Marco, a modern 3-star hotel in Siena, invites you to discover and take part in the city’s events.
Exhibitions, art, events, culture, and much more: Siena has plenty of activities in store for you!
When staying at the Hotel San Marco in Siena, you can easily explore all the other wonders of the region: from the Sienese countryside to the many small historic villages that dot the Chianti Valley.
The staff at Hotel San Marco will be your point of contact for arranging tours with knowledgeable and experienced guides who can plan charming itineraries and walking tours within the city, as well as day trips and excursions to nearby areas such as Chianti, the Crete Senesi, Valdichiana, and Val d’Orcia.
The city center can be reached on foot or, more conveniently, by taxi or by bus, which runs every 15 minutes to the Duomo or Piazza dell’Indipendenza (parallel to Piazza del Campo) from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM; tickets can be purchased at the hotel or at any tobacco shop.
Il Palio è una complessa manifestazione organizzata dal Comune di Siena.
Ten of the 17 Contrade compete in the Palio on July 2: the seven that did not compete in the Palio in July of the previous year, plus three selected by lottery from among the ten that did compete.
The draw takes place on the last Sunday in May. The same applies to the Palio on August 16, with the draw held at 3:00 p.m. on the first Sunday following the July Palio.
The 10 Contrade participate in the Palio race with a horse that is assigned to them by lottery from a pool of horses selected from among those deemed physically fit.
The selection trials and the assignment of horses take place three days before the Palio (on the morning of June 29 and August 13, respectively, for the two races); prior to the Palio, six trial races are held (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), during which the jockey (chosen by the Contrada) becomes familiar with the horse.
You can watch the trial races and the Palio by purchasing tickets to the grandstands (boxes) set up around the square or from the windows and balconies overlooking it, or for free from inside the square.
The Palio race is preceded by a parade (Passeggiata Storica) featuring over 600 participants representing the 17 Contrade and institutions of the ancient Republic of Siena. The parade departs from Piazza del Duomo in the early afternoon and winds through several streets in the city center before arriving in Piazza del Campo.
The race itself consists of riding bareback (without a saddle) around Piazza del Campo three times, which has been specially prepared and equipped for the occasion.
(Fonte: www.comune.siena.it)