In Piazza del Campo everything is ready or almost ready for the first 2025 edition of the Palio di Siena, the one on July 2nd in honor of the Madonna di Provenzano. The event officially began on Monday, June 26th, with the presentation ceremony of the Drappellone, the trophy that will be awarded to the winning Contrada, this year created by Riccardo Manganelli. There was great anticipation, however, for yesterday, Sunday, June 29th 2025: in the same location where the Palio will take place, the ceremony for the assignment of the horses that will run next July 2nd in the official race was held. The contradas were thus able to discover what Lady Luck had in store for them.
The Contrade of the Tuscan city will compete in the ancient equestrian joust, a very important tradition for all Sienese. The winning Contrada will take home the Drappellone or cencio, the trophy awarded at each edition, which will give pride to the members of the winning group.
The race consists of three laps of the Piazza del Campo, on a tuff track traced in the ring above the shell: the Contrada whose horse, with or without a jockey, completes the three laps first wins. The race, after a series of planned ceremonies, will begin at 5:20 p.m., with the entrance of the Corteo Storico into the square. The horses will leave the Cortile del Podestà at 7:30 p.m.
The Contrade—
The Contrade in the city of Siena are 17: Bruco, Drago, Giraffa, Istrice, Lupa, Oca, Aquila, Chiocciola, Onda, Pantera, Selva, Tartuca, Civetta, Leocorno, Nicchio, Torre, Valdimontone. The rivalries have very ancient origins between the different Sienese “teams”. Not all participate in the Palio: in fact, only 10 Contrade can participate. The Captains of the Contrade, at each edition, choose the horses that are then assigned, by drawing lots, to the 10 Contrade.
Palio di Siena 2025, July 2: the horses—
The assignments took place on what is called the day of the Tratta. After the registration of the admitted horses and the formation of the batteries, the Captains’ meeting was held to choose the ten horses and the subsequent assignment to the ten Contrade participating in the Palio: Selva, Drago, Valdimontone (at the third consecutive Palio), Lupa (at the third consecutive Palio), Chiocciola, Oca (at the fourth consecutive Palio), Bruco, Tartuca, Istrice and Pantera.
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