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Palio is the name given inItaly to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of acomune against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate some event or tradition of theMiddle Ages and thus often involvehorse 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.
ThePalio di Siena is the only one that has been run without interruption since it started in the 1630s and is definitely the most famous all over the world. 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 MinisterBenito Mussolini sent out an official declaration that only the one of Siena could bring the designation of Palio. All other horse races held in various parts of Italy are actually just modern reenactments. After theSecond World War, nevertheless, many other palios arose throughout the various regions of Italy. Here is an incomplete list:
