Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is a bareback horse race held twice a year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena’s medieval Piazza del Campo. Ten of the city’s seventeen historic districts, or Contrade, compete in a three-lap dash around the square that lasts under 90 seconds but caps four days of processions, trials and traditional dinners. Dating back to 1633, it remains one of Italy’s oldest and most passionately contested cultural events.
Racing Breaks offers official Palio di Siena 2027 hospitality packages from £3,895 per person, including luxury accommodation, premium viewing over Piazza del Campo, private transfers and exclusive access to a traditional Contrada Dinner. Packages can be secured with just a 10% deposit.
Official Tickets & Hospitality
We work in partnership with the Palio di Siena and offer official tickets or hospitality in exclusive apartments overlooking the square
Bespoke Experiences
Let our team of racing & travel experts build you your perfect itinerary with your choice of hotel, hospitality and more.
Exclusive Excursions
Enjoy access to exclusive an “Contrada dinner” the night before the Palio, along with wine tasting, and other optional extras
Ultimate Luxury
Witness this incredible event whilst staying in luxury at a 5* resort just outside of Siena
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The Palio di Siena with Racing Breaks
Palio di Siena Packages
Experience the Palio di Siena with one of our carefully curated packages starting from £3,895 per person.
All experiences can be booked from just a 10% deposit and include accommodation, official hospitality, all transfers, and some truly unique excursions to make your trip a memorable one.
from £3,895 per person
Trip Dates: 30th June – 3rd July 2027 or 14th – 17th August 2027
- Private return airport transfers
- Three (or more) nights accommodation
- Breakfast each morning
- Welcome amenities in room upon arrival
- Wine tasting at Castel Monastero with the hotel’s sommelier
- Dinner in one of the “Contrada” the night before the Palio
- Access to the “acqua benessere” indoor Spa
- Access to a shared window in a historic palace overlooking Piazza del Campo
- A light Tuscan buffet and open bar during the race
- Luxurious 5* Resort
- Historic Charm
- Wellness Retreat
- Gourmet Dining
- Scenic Surroundings
Tell us what you're looking for
Your trip could include…
- Return flights (including optional upgrades)
- Return airport transfers
- Accommodation at your choice of hotel
- Hospitality overlooking the historic race (including private apartments)
- Optional excursions
- Optional trip extensions to other destinations
Palio di Siena Tickets & Hospitality
There are three ways to watch the Palio di Siena; standing in the centre of Piazza del Campo (although this is not recommended & is typically only for local residents), reserved temporary grandstand seats, or hospitality. Our packages include hospitality in a private apartment looking over the historic square, the ultimate way to experience the race.
Luxury Apartment Hospitality
included in Castel Monastero package
Inside the apartment a light Tuscan buffet and complimentary drinks are served throughout the afternoon and evening, allowing you to relax, move freely, and savour the rising atmosphere in elegant surroundings. It is the ideal balance of proximity and comfort — immersing you fully in the drama and emotion of the Palio while remaining in a calm, private setting that only a select few are able to enjoy.
Key Highlights
- Exclusive access to a private apartment overlooking the Piazza del Campo
- Watch the Palio from a shared window offering incredible views of the race
- A light Tuscan buffet lunch
- Complimentary drinks throughout the day
Exclusive Inclusions
Beyond the race itself, your journey is enriched by carefully curated experiences that bring you closer to the soul of the Palio and the essence of Tuscany. From an invitation-only Contrada Dinner steeped in local tradition to a private wine tasting guided by Castel Monastero’s expert sommelier, each inclusion has been selected to deepen your connection with this extraordinary place and its timeless rituals.
Contrada Dinner
included in Castel Monastero package
On the night of 1 July or 15 August, each of the ten Contrade competing in the race transforms its own streets and piazzas into open-air dining rooms. Long tables stretch beneath strings of lights, torches and lanterns, often seating hundreds — and in the larger Contrade more than a thousand — locals and invited guests side by side. You will join one of these neighbourhoods, dining as temporary neighbours among the contradaioli who live and breathe the Palio year-round.
A traditional four-course Tuscan meal is served with local wines, while the air fills with singing, drumming, speeches from the Captain and Prior, and the quiet intensity of shared hope for the following day’s race. The jockey is often present at the table of honour. The evening is both a joyful celebration and an important fundraiser that helps sustain the Contrada’s activities throughout the year.
In past editions our guests have been hosted by the Eagle Contrada, dining in the shadow of Siena’s magnificent Cathedral. Wherever you are welcomed, the experience offers a rare and privileged immersion into the passion, pride and community spirit that make the Palio unlike any other event in the world.
Wine Tasting
included in Castel Monastero package
From the elegant structure of Chianti Classico and the depth of Sangiovese-based reds to finer expressions from nearby estates, each pour reveals the unique character of the terroir that surrounds Castel Monastero.
Guided by the sommelier’s deep knowledge, you’ll explore the aromas, flavours and stories behind every glass — discovering why this corner of Tuscany is revered worldwide for its vineyards. Traditional Tuscan accompaniments such as artisanal cheeses, cured meats and crostini may be paired to enhance the tasting, creating a sensory interlude that perfectly complements the elegance of your stay.
It is a quiet, memorable moment of discovery — an invitation to slow down, savour, and connect with the land that has shaped some of Italy’s most iconic wines.
About the Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is a thrilling bareback horse race held twice a year in the historic Piazza del Campo. Steeped in medieval tradition and fierce Contrada rivalry, it remains one of Italy’s most passionate and spectacular cultural events, where centuries of history, pageantry and local pride collide in a dramatic three-lap contest lasting less than two minutes. Ten of the city’s seventeen historic neighbourhoods compete for the ultimate honour of victory, transforming Siena into a living tapestry of colour, song and intense emotion.
July Palio (2nd July)
The July race is dedicated to Our Lady of Provenzano. It takes place in the iconic Piazza del Campo, where ten contrade selected by lottery race bareback around the track. The city celebrates for days with neighborhood dinners, parades, and the colorful Corteo Storico historical procession.
August Palio (16th August)
The August edition honours the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. While the structure and traditions are similar, this Palio is often seen as the more solemn and spiritually symbolic of the two, coinciding with major summer festivities and attracting large crowds.
Dress Code
There is no formal dress code for the private apartment viewing of the Palio, but smart casual is recommended. Given the summer heat in Siena during July and August, lightweight, breathable fabrics such as linen, cotton or silk are ideal. Opt for refined yet comfortable pieces — a light shirt or elegant blouse, tailored trousers or a summer dress, and comfortable shoes suitable for walking through the historic streets.
Palio di Siena Flights
If required, our experiences can include flights to either Florence, Pisa or Rome. Depending on your choice of departure airport you will fly to one of these cities before being collected by private chauffeur and transported to Castel Monastero.
Onward flights are possible for those looking to spend a few nights in another European city either before or after your time in Siena. Flight upgrades are available to Premium Economy, Business & First Class subject to being an option on the flight booked.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Palio di Siena takes place biannually on the 2nd July and 16th August.
A Contrada is one of Siena’s historic city districts. Each of the seventeen Contrade is a living community with its own colours, emblem, church, museum and patron saint — membership is by birth, and residents take part in their Contrada’s life and traditions year-round, not just during the Palio.
Siena is divided into seventeen Contrade in total, though only ten compete in each Palio. They are: Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Owl), Drago (Dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (Porcupine), Leocorno (Unicorn), Lupa (She-Wolf), Nicchio (Shell), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Panther), Selva (Forest), Tartuca (Tortoise), Torre (Tower) and Valdimontone (Ram). Long-standing alliances and rivalries between them — such as Oca and Torre, or Aquila and Pantera — shape much of the drama around each race.
The Palio di Siena in its modern form dates back to 1633, though horse racing in Siena’s streets and squares is recorded much earlier — some accounts trace informal races back to the 13th century. Of the two current races, the July Palio (Provenzano) dates to 1656, while the August Palio (Assunta) was introduced later, in 1701.
The most recent Palio, run in August, was won by Nicchio (Shell), breaking a long drought for a Contrada that hadn’t won a Palio since 1998. Before that: Aquila won in July 2026, Valdimontone won in August 2025, Oca in July 2025, and Lupa in August 2024.
Approximately 20–25 minutes by private transfer. The resort sits in the Chianti countryside, offering serene luxury while remaining perfectly placed for the event.
An invitation-only outdoor banquet held the evening before the race in the streets of one of the participating Contrade (in past years often the Eagle Contrada near the Cathedral). Long tables, torchlight, local food and wine, and the passionate atmosphere of the neighbourhood create one of the most authentic experiences of Palio week.
Access to a shared window in a historic palace overlooking Piazza del Campo, together with a light Tuscan buffet and open bar throughout the afternoon and evening. You enjoy the historic procession and race from a privileged, elevated position without the crowds and heat of the central square.
Yes — private airport transfers on arrival and departure, plus transfers into Siena for the Contrada Dinner and race day, are all included.
Yes. Guests enjoy complimentary access to the Acqua Benessere spa, pools, and grounds throughout the stay. A private wine tasting with the hotel’s sommelier is also included.
Extensions at Castel Monastero or further travel to Florence, Pisa, or Rome are easily arranged. Simply let us know and we will tailor the onward arrangements.
If heavy rain makes the track unsafe or the start is delayed past sunset, the race is postponed to the following day (or the day after if necessary). Tickets remain valid for the rescheduled date. If possible, we recommend adding an extra night to the end of your trip to ensure you can attend should there be a delay.
At Racing Breaks we only offer packages that include access to private apartments overlooking the Piazza, or grandstand seats.
Standing inside the centre of Piazza del Campo is free (space is limited and entrances close early) however we do not recommend this and it is typically only local residents that watch the race in this way.
The free central area of the square can be intense (heat, crowds, long wait, no facilities, and children under 10 are typically not permitted). Seated or window positions, such as those included in this itinerary, are far more comfortable for families.
As early as possible. Official hospitality positions and the best rooms at Castel Monastero are limited and in high demand, particularly for the August edition.
All Racing Breaks Palio di Siena packages can be booked with an initial 10% deposit. A further 20% deposit is then due two months after the date of booking, with the final balance typically due around 12 weeks before travel. If you book closer to the event, a 30% deposit (or payment in full) may be required at the time of booking.
Deposits for Racing Breaks packages are non-refundable at any stage of cancellation. If you cancel more than 60 days before departure, you will lose the full deposit paid (a minimum of 30% of the booking value). Cancellations made 59 days or fewer before departure result in the loss of the full value of the booking.
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