Thousands of spectators gathered in the Tuscan city of Siena for a traditional bareback horse race around the main square. The Palio di Siena has been held in the Piazza del Campo in the centre of the medieval city, twice a year, almost without fail since 1656.
Carabinieri officers ride their horses during a parade before the fifth heat for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/Reuters
Siena is divided into 17 contrade, or parishes, and each enters a horse and a rider in the race, although only 10 make it to the finals. The parishes all have their own banners, jockeys' colours and mascots, dating back to the Middle Ages. The 17 parishes are: Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Little Owl), Drago (Dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (Crested Porcupine), Leocorno (Unicorn), Lupa (She-Wolf), Nicchio (Seashell), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Panther), Selva (Forest), Tartuca (Tortoise), Torre (Tower) and Valdimontone (Valley of the Ram).
Andrea Coghe, jockey of the Selva (Forest) parish, rides during the fourth practices for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersJockey Giovanni Atzeni of the Istrice (Porcupine) parish rides his horse during the third heat for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersMembers of the Valdimontone (Valley of the Ram) parish attend a ceremony for the blessing of their horse Sarbana and jockey Jonatan BartolettiFilippo Monteforte/AFPGiovanni Atzeni of the Istrice (Porcupine) parish shouts at Jonatan Bartoletti of the Valmontone (Valley of the Ram) parish at the start of the third heat for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersThe horse of the Oca (Goose) parish is escorted by a groom during a parade before the Palio di SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersThe horse of the Oca (Goose) parish is escorted by a groom before the second heat for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersA Carabinieri officer crashes during their parade before the fifth heat for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersCarabinieri officer lies on the ground after a crash during a parade before the fifth heat for the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/Reuters
The race rarely lasts longer than a few minutes, and the winner is determined by which horse – not which rider – crosses the finish line first. In 2010 the horse owned by the Selva (Forest) parish crossed the line without its jockey and was declared the winner. The winning parish is presented with the Cencio or Palio, a silk banner.
Only nine of the ten parishes that qualified for the final on Wednesday 16 August actually started the race, as the Lupa (She Wolf) parish was disqualified because their horse was injured. After a breakneck race in which at least one rider fell off, the Onda parish's horse Porto Alabe, ridden by jockey Carlo Sanna (known as Brigante) romped home in first place.
Carlo Sanna of the Onda (Wave) parish and his horse are blessed by a priest in the church before the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersElias Mannucci of the Chiocciola (Snail) parish leads the Palio of Siena horse raceStefano Rellandini/ReutersThe competitors round a bend during the PalioStefano Rellandini/ReutersLuigi Bruschelli of the Bruco (Caterpillar) parish crashesStefano Rellandini/ReutersLuigi Bruschelli of the Bruco (Caterpillar) parish falls of his horse during the Palio of SienaStefano Rellandini/ReutersThe jockeys and horses of two different parishes vie for positionStefano Rellandini/ReutersCarlo Sanna of the Onda (Wave) parish wins the historical race on his horse Porto AlabeFilippo Monteforte/AFPJockey Carlo Sanna, known as Brigante, celebrates after winning the Palio di Siena for the Onda (Wave) parish on a horse named Porto AlabeFilippo Monteforte/AFPCarlo Sanna of the Onda (Wave) parish celebrates with supporters after winning the Palio of Siena horse race on 16 August 2017Stefano Rellandini/ReutersMembers of the Onda (Wave) parish celebrate with the winning jockey Carlo Sanna, known as BriganteFilippo Monteforte/AFP
