...being there, but without the crowds

...being there, but without the crowds

Extra Palio Siena October the 20th 2018

Sep 2018

With great surprise on Saturday the 20th of October 2018 an extra Palio will take place, to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War (read more about the official reason).

The decision was taken quite suddenly, with just a few days between the proposal and the confirmation of this additional Palio. 10 out of the 17 Contradas in Siena have voted in favour of this special happening, thus setting the organisation process in motion, and igniting emotions and dreams of the Sienese people.

The tufo, the special dirt laid for the Palio, will therefore cover the Piazza del Campo for a third time this year, in October. And this is another peculiarity of this extra Palio, as such "third races" have historically been run in the spring or soon after the "regular" August Palio, such as the last extra-ordinary Palio of the year 2000, won by the Contrada della Selva on September the 9th. We must go back to 1745 to find another race in October.

Surely this is a historical event, unique in its configuration and motivation. In October we will have shorter days, a milder climate, the vineyards already with the bright colours of the autumn and less visitors in town; yet the people of the Contradas will be ready to preparate, participate and celebrate in the usual explosive manner this new race. 

Given the very short notice to this third race of the year, and therefore a demand which will probably be less massive than for July the 2nd or August the 16th races, tickets to the October the 20th, 2018 extra Palio will be on sale at sensibly reduced prices. The race will be identical in importance, organisation and intensity to any other which has been run in the past 350 years.


Extra Palio 2018 schedule


Contact us for more information on tickets, accommodation and packages to this rare event!

Siena, 14th September 2018


Aug 2015

Torre and Selva get the Palio 2015

The Palio, agust 2015

Torre and Selva are proud to get the Palio for 2015 season

Dec 2015

The Palio movie, a perfect introduction!

The Palio documentary movie introduces you to the complexity of the race... Which is not really (only) a horse race!

Aug 2016

Palio 2016, Lupa triumphs!

Both Palii are brought in the Cathedral

After waiting for long  27 years, Lupa triumphs in 2016 with both Palii, what a great celebration for Lupa!