The Palio of Casole d'Elsa, in the province of Siena, in the Tuscany region, is a horse race held annually on the second Sunday of July at 6:30 PM in honor of Saint Isidore.
The race is run bareback on a specially prepared dirt track that is notably uphill, making the race particularly challenging for both the horses and the jockeys. It is a "Roman-style" Palio or "long Palio," meaning the starting point is different from the finish point, unlike the circular Palio of Siena. The week leading up to the Palio is marked by evening celebrations and dinners in the different districts.
The six districts participating in the event correspond to specific territorial divisions: Rivellino, Pievalle, Campagna, Il Merlo, Cavallano, and Monteguidi.
The winning district of the Palio receives the "drappellone" (also known as the palio or cencio) as a prize, which is generally a banner created by specially commissioned artists. In the days following the victory, the winning district will celebrate with displays of joy, songs, and dinners open to everyone, characterizing the life of the victorious district and its residents.
We do not yet have confirmed information about the next edition. You can look for updates using the references below (website for more details or Facebook page).
