Page 92 - Ocean Blue World Fall 2019 Edition

BEHIND THE SCENES

70

Seconds to Win

By Jacquie Bate
or the Siena townsfolk, “Il Palio di Siena is history,
tradition, and life itself.” Four days of festivities culminate
in just seventy thunderous seconds of racing, where a horse
F can win “scosso” - without its rider!

This public event is uniquely focused on residents rather than tourists.
Ten of Siena's 17 contrade, or districts, take turns to compete in a
race as old as Tuscany itself. For visitors, securing a spot on a balcony
overlooking the piazza is a priceless privilege.

The atmosphere amid the emotionally-charged crowd is exhilarating.
In Quantum of Solace, the twenty-second movie in the James Bond
series, an intense chase through dark passages is intercut with heart-
thumping scenes from the horse race in the piazza outside. As well,
Cosima Spender’s documentary, Palio, provides rare insight into the
underworld of Italy’s most famous horse race and one of its most
prominent cultural events.

Photos Courtesy Of: Filippo Monteforte, AFP/Getty Images

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