My family, including a four year old, will be near Sienna on July 2. None of us are crazy about crowds. I'm from NYC and avoided Times Square on New Years Eve my whole life. No interest. But how about on July 1? The pre race pagentry and practice races. Are the crowds massive for those? Thanks to all the Fodor-ites who have helped plan this family trip.

Twenty years ago I was in Siena for several days before the Palio and we attended a couple of practice races. Yes, there were crowds, but by the time we attended the actual event, those crowds seemd more like a handful of passersby. Try driving into town. If you can get that far, it's probably a good sign things aren't too crowded. There's a lot of activity going on besides the practice races,though, too - the whole town is involved in getting ready for banquets and feasts and the parade and speeches - it's very interesting to be there to see the preparations in full swing.

I was in Sienna with kids on July 2 a few years back. You got a sense of the event, lots of decorations, flags, etc...but it was not totally crazy. I am glad we got a taste of the event without the actual race crowds and craziness.

Everyone in our group bought one of the different palio flags (from the different neighborhoods) we then rooted for our respective teams on TV from the comfort of our villa.

We were in Siena last summer a couple of days before the Palio. I'd agree with StCirq. It was fun to see preparations, bands of youths wandering through the streets singing songs, flags everywhere. The friends with whom we were traveling were there the day before and saw a practice race. They were able to park just outside the city gates and so we we, respectively on the Wednesday and Thursday before the Palio. The crowds were not bad (although there's always a lot of tuurist traffic in Siena), and away from the center of town things were reasonably quiet. I think you'll all enjoy being there, four year old included.

Unless thigs have changed over the last 15-17 years - we were in Siena with 2 young boys twice. The first time it was pre-Palio, which was really exciting. Not too crowded. The streets are not wide and quite a few Italians in the crowd. It isn't claustrophobic, etc. and we felt fine about our boys (8 & 10) walking around by themselves, we could see them fine.
The Palio itself which we saw with them several years later was very exciting. We were told by Italians that it was wild and too crowded, but we were fine and were with our grandmother 84 at the time. Ther was no shoving like here. The crowds are polite and manageable by our standards, and Italians are drinking water not booze. Also the Sienese are getting very excited so it is easy to get caught up.

It is hot, water is available, we stood at the edge, near the wall, it did take a while to start, it is over quickly, one of the boys sat on their Pop's shoulders and took photos - he saw the most, we did not see the race, - once it got started we were not able to see much from where we were, altho' only 1 deep. The pre-Palio - right before is wonderful and full of pageantry.

The weeks leading up to it is fabulous - evrywhere you walk - first you hear a staedy drumming, and then you round a corner and there are young boys and men in costumes, right down to their shoes, and they throw the flags etc. I would suggest with a young family to be there the week before and skip the Paio unless you can afford seats, or are willing, patient etc. enough to be in the Piazza early enough to get a good vantage point. But you'll have fun!

We were at Palio in August in 1999. We went to a dinner the night before the race in the square where the race is held. There were communal tables, lots of singing, drinking and comradery. It was a wonderful evening, and I would highly recommend it. Our hotel made the reservations for us.