Discover Siena and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the emotions it has to offer.

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Located just 100 meters (328ft) from Piazza del Campo, I Terzi di Siena provides a stunning view of the Torre del Mangia and the Cathedral.

Located just 100 meters (328ft) from Piazza del Campo, I Terzi di Siena provides a stunning view of the Torre del Mangia and the Cathedral.

Right in the heart of Siena, our building stands on the exact meeting point of the three historical Terzieri, the old repartition of the city named: Camollia, San Martino and Città. Here, in 2008, our hospitality project was born, transforming a simple passion into a family reality. Each guest has helped us improve. After more than fifteen years, we continue to learn, because hospitality is an art that requires passion and consistency. For us, those who choose to stay here are not just tourists, but travelers seeking genuine emotions. Our goal is to provide a unique experience that creates an unforgettable memory.

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I Terzi di Siena

GUEST HOUSE IN THE HISTORICAL CITY CENTRE

The building - being one of the tallest of the historical center - offers a breathtaking view. From the apartments on the fifth floor you can admire the Torre del Mangia, the basilica of San Domenico and the enchanting Sienese skyline.

The Palio di Siena

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The Palio di Siena is a historical horse race between the Contrade, held in Piazza del Campo on July 2nd and August 16th.

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The Palio di Siena dates back to the 17th century, though its roots trace further back to the Middle Ages, gradually evolving into a distinctive race between the Contrade.

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Siena lives the Palio all year round: a centuries-old tradition that combines history, passion and rivalry among its seventeen Contrade.

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The origins of the Palio date back to medieval games, evolved since the end of the 16th century in a horse race in the Campo square.

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A tradition handed down through generations that reinforces the sense of belonging and identity.

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The Palio itself is a silk banner hand-painted by internationally renowned artists.

Experience the Palio

Useful info & FAQ

WHY DO WE SAY THE "DAYS OF THE PALIO", PLURAL?

The Palio is not an event that is limited to just the horse race on July 2 and August 16: we can even say that for the people of Siena, the Palio lasts all year long. By the Days of the Palio, we mean, in general, the period of 4 days beginning with the assignment of the horses to each running Contrada and ending with the actual race (June 29 – July 2 and August 13 – August 16), in which the majority of the Palio events occur.

Once the 10 horses have been chosen, they are assigned to the 10 Contrade that are participating in the Palio by a drawing lots. (Lady luck has always had her hand in this event.) The drawing lots normally takes place between 12:30 and 13:30, in the Piazza del Campo crowded to the brim. It is a pivotal moment because only after they find out which is the horse they will run the race with, can the Contrada put their race strategies into action. It is therefore a moment of great tension, as is demonstrated by the exultation of the contrada members who have had the luck of drawing a good horse and of the delusion of those who have received a horse that is not considered as good.

Each Contrada brings its horse to the Piazza, accompanied by a tight group of contrada members and their chants. This happens 1 & ½ hours before the time of the actual trial is scheduled to take place. First the track is cleared and all the accesses to the Piazza are closed and the trials take place simulating the actual Palio or in any case, completing the distance of “three times around the track”, but it is not a real race, considered the outcome has no value: the purpose is to let the horses and jockeys adapt as best as possible to the track and the type of situation presented by the actual Palio. race.

At 9 for the morning trials (the second, the fourth and the “Provaccia”). For the afternoon trials (the first, the fourth and the “Prova Generale”) at 19:45 for the July Palio and at 19:15 for the August Palio.

For the morning trials, it is sufficient to arrive in the Piazza between 8:30 – 8:45. For the afternoon trials it is advisable to be in the Piazza 1 hour before the expected starting time of the trial, unless you want to be caught up in the crowds bringing their horses into the Piazza from the various contradas. If, on the other hand, you want to watch the arrival of the horses in the Piazza, it is best to enter after the arrival of the last contrada’s horse, about ½ hour before the start of the trial, possibly from via Rinaldini (one of the last accesses to be closed off.) 

If the track is wet and is not considered suitable for use, the trials will not take place and a green flag will be hung on the front of City Hall (Palazzo Pubblico) to advise the public. The trials that do not take place will not be made up at a later date, so, as it has already happened in the past, we can arrive on the date of the Palio without having had any trials even run.

If it rains on the day of the Palio, the race will not be run, above all to safe-guard the well-being of the horses and jockeys. A green flag will be hung on the front of the City Hall to advise the public and the race will be run on the following day, weather conditions permitting.

These are the trials with 5 and 6 horses in each trial, whose purpose is to verify the condition of the horses presented for the Palio (usually about 30 horses) and their suitability to run in the Piazza del Campo: they are not really actual races among the horses. They usually take place between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and afterwards the Captains of the Contradas that are participating in the Palio choose 10 horses for the Palio race (they do not necessarily choose the best horses: they can decide to have a healthy and trustworthy horse instead of a strong horse that could cause problems in the type of race situation in the Piazza.)

The second trial is run in the morning, the third trial in the late afternoon. On the afternoon of Aug. 14, before the trial, the Procession of the Candles takes place, during which time the painted Palio banner is brought to the Cathedral (instead in July the Palio is brought to the church of Santa Maria in Provenzano).

The fourth trial is run in the morning, the fifth trial in the late afternoon, also called the “Prova Generale”, which is preceded by a special exhibition of the mounted Carabinieri charging half-way around the Piazza in full dress, swords drawn. After the trial, all of the participating contradas hold a special dinner known as the “Cena della Prova Generale”. The dinners are held out in the open air, in squares or on city streets, in the various neighborhoods, and for this reason they are not open to pedestrian traffic for the major part of that day.

Yes, it is possible, but you must make a reservation and pay several days before hand in the society or club house of the Contrada in which you wish to eat dinner in.

The sixth trial is run in the morning, also called the “Provaccia”, preceded by the Mass for the Jockeys, which is celebrated in the Piazza del Campo. In the afternoon, in the church of each contrada participating in the Palio, the benediction of the horse takes place. Following this, the “Comparse” or contrada members dressed in the historical costumes of their contrada meet in the Prefettura (near the cathedral) which is where the historical parade leaves from to reach the Piazza. So there is the exhibition of the mounted Carabinieri in Piazza del Campo followed by the historical parade (about 2 hours long) and finally the “carriera” or Palio race itself.

In general, the contrada churches are very small and, therefore, for the blessing of the horse, priority is given to the contrada members. You can try to ask permission to be admitted inside (however, permission can be given or denied depending on the circumstances). Whoever is able to eventually enter, must remember that they are witnessing a very poignant moment, both delicate and very emotional for the contrada members: during the presence of the horse in the church, ABSOLUTE SILENCE is requested and the USE OF FLASH IS FORBIDDEN.

Yes, but it is necessary to stay close to the buildings along the sides of the roads so as not to get in the way of the parade as it passes. Keep in mind that there are large crowds and the streets are very narrow. The way of the Parade before entering into the Piazza is: Cortile della Prefettura – Piazza del Duomo – via del Capitano – via S. Pietro – Casato di Sopra – Casato di Sotto.

Between 16 and 16:30 p.m. in July. Between 15:30 and 16 p.m. in August.

You can get into the Piazza from any entrance before the Historical Parade comes into the Piazza, or after it has begun its entrance, you can access through the opening from via Duprè (the entrance from the contrada Onda). Keep in mind that this last entrance is very narrow and to walk through it can be very problematic (or even dangerous for people suffering from heart problems, children and in general people who are physically frail) due to the great crowds present. In addition, once you have entered the Piazza, it is even more problematic to leave the Piazza before the beginning of the race. For that reason it is very important to carefully evaluate whether or not to enter or only to go in if one is determined to remain until the end of the Palio race.

No, there are not; so plan yourselves accordingly.

In general, there are three stands that sell fresh drinks and snacks and are easy to locate.

No, it is absolutely forbidden to take chairs or stools into the Piazza to sit or stand on.

The entrance of the Historical Parade into the Piazza is scheduled for a short time after 5 p.m. (or just after 4:30 p.m. for the August Palio). But since they start closing the entrances half an hour before its arrival, it is good to be inside that Piazza by 4:30 p.m. in July and by 4 p.m. in August. This means about a 3 hour wait; considering the season, it is appropriate to be prepared to beat the heat which can be quite intense with such a large crowd.

Inside the Piazza, or rather, in front of the starting line, at the “curva di S. Martino”, Gavinone and Casato there are volunteers for emergencies; inside the Fonte Gaia  there are other volunteers along with a doctor and two nurses. Two other doctors and nurses are inside of the white Chapel in the Piazza, which is in front of Palazzo Pubblico

On the main streets and on those most frequented by pedestrians, there are medical stations: in Piazza della Posta, at the Logge del Papa, in Piazza del Duomo and in Piazza Tolomei.

At 7:30 p.m. in July and at 7 p.m. in August. The actual start of the race can take place much later than this, if the lining up of the horses at the starting line or “Mossa” are delayed or if there are false starts.

In theory it is possible to go into the Piazza from the contrada Onda entrance until a few minutes before the actual time indicated for the race. However, you must keep in mind that this is the only entrance still open and that thousands of other people will be trying to enter there at the last minute. It is therefore advisable to arrive well in advance and be ready to wait up to half an hour before actually being able to get into the Piazza due to the great crowds trying to enter all at once along this narrow street.

It is not advisable to enter onto the earthen tufo track right after the race, to avoid interfering with the celebrations of the winning contrada and to keep at a distance from any fights that could develop. Also be very careful of any eventual rider-less horses that could still be running around the track.

The winning contrada members bring the Palio to the Church of Santa Maria in Provenzano (in July) and to the Duomo (in August) to sing thanks to the Virgin Mary; then they take it back to their contradas and from that moment on constantly parade the Palio banner through the streets of the town, accompanied by songs, drums and flags.

Because the victory of the Palio is considered like the birth of a baby and so the contrada members themselves automatically become new-borns. For the people of Siena the Palio is the evolution of the life of a human being (from infancy to adulthood). This situation is underlined by the fact that the contrada that has not won for the longest time is called grandmother or “Nonna”.

It is free to watch the Palio from the middle of the Piazza. The shape of the Piazza is that of a shell, so that there is a good visibility even for those people who are not so tall. The people from Siena, usually go into the center of the Piazza, also because it is there that you can experience the greatest emotional impact. If you prefer to watch the Palio from the bleacher seats, the balconies or the windows over-looking the Piazza, you must pay.

As there is no general ticket office for the ticket sales, you need to contact the individual owners directly or ask for information from your hotel or bed & breakfast hosts. Remember, however, that it is not always an easy task to find tickets.

I Terzi di Siena

room rentals in historic center

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I Terzi di Siena
Via dei Termini 13, Siena
Tel: +39 339 6699143
info@terzidisiena.it
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