Palio

Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a comune against each other.

Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate some event or tradition of the Middle Ages and thus often involve horse racing, archery, jousting, crossbow shooting, and similar medieval sports.

Once purely a matter of local rivalries, many have now become events that are staged with an eye to visitors and foreign tourists.

Its historical origins are documented since 1239 even though the version seen today was the final evolution of races held from the second half of the 16th century.

In 1935, Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini sent out an official declaration that only the one of Siena could bring the designation of Palio.