Palio of Provenzano (Wed, 2 July 2025)
In a typical year, three additional contradas (contrade) are selected by lottery to join the seven that did not run the previous July, providing ten competitors. This race is unique, however, in that five lucky contradas were selected in the extraction (see this post for more about this event), typically held six Sundays prior to the next Palio. This is because the Aquila (Eagle) and Torre (Tower) contradas were disqualified from this Palio due to previous transgressions. A third contrada, Nicchio (Shell), is also disqualified for July. If it is extracted during the lottery (which it wasn’t), another contrada would be selected instead. This means there is a greater than 50% chance that any of the remaining contradas will be selected to race in this one (normally it is a 3-in-10 chance, whereas it is now a 5-in-9 chance). Below are the 10 contradas participating in the July 2 Palio:
- Guaranteed from previous year: Tartuca (Turtle), Chiocciola (Snail), Drago (Dragon), Selva (Forest), Istrice (Porcupine)
- Extracted by lottery, May 25 (in this order): Lupa (She-Wolf), Oca (Goose), Bruco (Caterpillar), Valdimontone (Ram), Pantera (Panther)
NOTES: With the ten contradas now chosen for the July Palio, there will be two rival pairs (Turtle/Snail, Porcupine/She-Wolf). Typically this makes it more difficult for one of the rivals to win, but not always. Others will be without their rival on the track, namely the Panther, Ram, and Goose. The remaining contradas have no official rival/enemy to contend with, at least during the race. (For the third consecutive time, the race was postponed due to rain and held instead on July 3.)
WINNER: Goose Contrada, with jockey Giovanni Atzeni (nickname: Tittia), on the horse, Diodoro. This is Tittia’s 11’th victory, getting close to the record number of wins by a single jockey in the modern era (13).
Palio dell’Assunta (Palio of the Assumption, 16 August 2025)
(Updated July 6, 2025). Four contradas (contrade) were extracted on July 6, one more than the typical three (see below). They will join the six that did not run the previous August race. The selection of four instead of three contradas is due to the Torre contrada (Tower) being disqualified for this one (as it was in July). The extraction (see this post for more info) typically occurs six Sundays prior to the next Palio and is held in the Piazza del Campo.
- Guaranteed from previous year: Pantera (Panther), Tartuca (Turtle), Drago (Dragon), Bruco (Caterpillar), Giraffa (Giraffe), Aquila (Eagle)
- Extracted by lottery (July 6, 2025): Leocorno (Unicorn), Onda (Wave), Civetta (Owl), Valdimontone (Ram).
NOTES: There will be two rival pairs running in the August Palio, those of the Eagle/Panther and Owl/Unicorn. Other contradas will be more fortunate to be running without their rival trying to disrupt them on the turf, namely the Wave and Ram. The Caterpillar/Giraffe rivalry was ended with a “peace treaty” in the 1990s, though the Caterpillar and Dragon still feel some bad blood between them since a Palio incident at the end of World War II. The Ram will try as it did unsuccessfully in July to take advantage of not having its rival, the Shell to contend with, due to the Shell’s disqualification this summer. See this article from La Voce del Palio (The Voice of Palio) for images and news story from the Estrazione (Extraction) held in Piazza del Campo on July 6.
WINNER: Ram Contrada (Valdimontone), with jockey Giuseppe Zedde (nickname: Gingillo), on the horse, Anda e Bola. This is Gingillo’s 4’th victory in the Siena Palio (the previous win for the She-Wolf in Aug, 2018). This is the Ram’s first Palio victory since 2012.
The Siena Visitor 