Some interesting background info, and details about the race from this month's "Smithsonian".<BR><BR><BR>http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smi...g02/palio.html

Dear Tania<BR> HI!! Thanks for the article info, I am always fascinated to read<BR>what the "others" have to say about our feast. Well I can tell you that we<BR>DO NOT bet, we never kidnap jockeys, the Palio does not mean banner, we do<BR>not use the expression "nudi-naked", the jockeys are not Butteri from the<BR>south part of Tuscany but from the island of Sardinia-the Palio does not go<BR>back to Roman times. I found it to be very incorrect, this happens very often as the 'Palio' is a feast that really belongs to the inhabitants of Siena and visitors are welcome but hardly ever manage to get the 'right feel'. What most journalists never capture is the fact that the Palio is mainly a very posoitive social event that lasts 365 days a year, all the Contrade organize meetings-assemblies-dinners and are fundamental in the education of the young children and never leave the older people lonely. If you really want to learn about the event you should read "La Terra in Piazza" an interpretation of the Palio written by Allan Dundes and Alessandro Falassi.

I agree certain articles give a completely distorted idea about the event, I wonder if the comitee 'Amici del Palio' that controls the image of the feast will make any official protest.

Hi Dario,<BR><BR>Thanks for the clarification. I just did a web search on "La Terra in Piazza" and it seems the book is hard to come by in North America. I'll be leaving for Italy on Saturday, and will be going to Siena for the Palio on the 16th. I'll try to see if I can find the book prior to that date, while in Florence.<BR><BR>tania

Dear Tania<BR> Hi!! PLease come to Siena the day before the Palio, the night of the 15th is simply magical...