Unlike what happened on July 2nd with a horse clearly superior to the others (the victory went to Tittia with the Selva), the Palio of August 16th is characterized by uncertainty. And not only for the inevitable controversies with the animal rights activists (who presented the proposal for a referendum) but also with the minister Santanché (who spoke of the Palio as “a tourist attraction”).
Returning to the essence of the Palio. Even today, however, there is a hierarchy of favorite horses, as always, but these points of reference are not enough to channel the race into a written finale.
The favorites and the horses assigned
In a metaphorical starting grid, in front are Giraffa (with Tittia riding Abbasantesa), Pantera (Scompiglio and Anda and Bola) and Oca (Brigante and Zio Frac).
From behind, Aquila and Tartuca may well appear.
However, unlike Provenzano’s career, there are three pairs of rivals on the field: in itself a factor that can upset the script.
The «provaccia» was won by the Chiocciola.
Live coverage of the Palio
Meanwhile, at 2.50 pm the first notice of clearance of the tuff track in Piazza del Campo took place in view of the Career which will take place at 7 pm.
At 15.20 the second notice was given.
Finally, at 16.10 the clearing of the runway began.
The “shell” of the heart of the historic center is gradually filling up with citizens and tourists.
Piazza del Campo can hold up to about 15 thousand people.
Gianna Nannini is also in Siena for the Palio dell’Assunta. On the evening of August 15, Gianna Nannini sang with the women of the Goose at the general rehearsal dinner. And this afternoon, at the invitation of Mayor Nicoletta Fabio, the rock star will be at the three-mullioned windows of Palazzo Pubblico.
Live TV
Live TV of the Palio starts on La7 and from 4.45 pm from Piazza del Campo. The commentary will be edited by Pierluigi Pardo and Giovanni Mazzini (profound connoisseur of Siena and its districts). Furthermore, from the Sala del Mappamondo, inside the Palazzo Comunale, the correspondent Elena Testi will interview the personalities present to attend the event. And with the trackside audio station it will be possible to hear the sounds from the stands and the voices of the jockeys.
The stages towards the Palio dell’Assunta
Horses and jockeys were assigned on Sunday 13 August and the first trials took place.
What you need to know
The protagonists are 10 districts out of the 17 total, chosen by lot according to a particular regulation that allows continuous rotation: Tower, Dragon, Caterpillar, Pantera, Goose, Aquila, Porcupine, Tartuca, Snail and Giraffe.
Among the jockeys, one of the protagonists will be Giovanni Atzeni known as «Tittia», who has entered the centuries-old history of the event by right for being the first jockey to win 5 consecutive victories, the last one in the Palio del Provenzano held on 2 July, with the district of Forest.
The “career” includes three laps of Piazza del Campo overcoming treacherous points such as the narrow curve of San Martino, often the scene of clashes and falls: victory goes to the horse of the contrada that arrives first at the finish line, even if “shaken”, i.e. without jockey.
Article being updated….
August 16, 2023
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2023-08-16 14:26:09
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