Attend the Palio Horse Race in Siena Italy

“The (first) day of the Palio pretty much all of the IES Abroad students were excited to watch, and again it was thrilling to just be near so many contradaioli and hearing them berate tourists for having their phones out during the Mossa (when the horses get lined up). [...] And finally the Palio actually happened!! This day we were surrounded by the Nicchio, Onda, and Oca Contrade, and with the way the race turned out at the last second, we could perfectly see Onda’s excitement and Oca’s astonishment and anger (Onda won with Oca in second, meaning they were humiliated). We were able to see a little of Brigante, Onda’s jockey, and Tabacco, Onda’s horse, being celebrated, but it was a crazy rush, and we were able to see it much better in the videos we watched in class.”

“On the third start, the race was on and the crowd literally went wild. In the first sharp turn of the race, two jockeys fell off of their horses and stretchers were brought out to carry them off. Their horses continued to race riderless for the next two laps of the Palio. If you watch the video carefully you can see them fall off! No I am not kidding.”

“We waited and waited and watched person after person stand in front of us until I could no longer see. We have heard that in some contradas the horse actually goes inside the church, but our experience was that the horse was brought in to the courtyard. However, I could listen and imagine as the crowd cheered, sang and spoke the Lord’s Prayer (in Italian of course). I had chills.”