The Palio, the world’s most famous horse race, is so much more than just 90 seconds of exhilaration. Siena’s central square is transformed into a treacherous hippodrome, and the might of the Middle Ages resurfaces in this biannual competition when ten of the 17 Contrade (districts) compete for a silk banner and eternal glory. In Siena they say “Il Palio si corre tutto l’anno” (“the Palio is run year round”) and “Palio è vita” (“Palio is life”); discover what these expressions mean as you explore a Contrada with your guide before stepping into the Piazza del Campo and into this spectacular tradition.