The Great War of Siena - The Palio

There are few cultural events that are organised and funded by the passion and dedication of it's people, than here in Siena. Twice every year, the Italian city of Siena hosts the oldest horse race in the world, dating back to 1644. It is the embodiment of civic pride with the culmination of a four-day festival that people celebrate inside their Contrada. Astuteness and shrewdness play as much a part of the race, as the skill of the jockey and horse. Horses are drawn by lot four days prior, parades fill backstreets, anthems echo in euphoric melody, captions make strategies and jockeys forge alliances to outsmart their rivals. Steeped in tradition, celebration and respect the winning jockey is taken to the Duomo to thank Madonna, along with the thousands who follow. I spent ten days embedded with the people of Drago Contrada understanding what the Palio means to them.