Palio di Siena
Siena, Italy
The Experience
Palio Weekend
3 nights
Experience Siena's centuries-old Palio through exclusive insider access, private celebrations, and a stay at Castello del Calcione.
Full Palio Immersion
4 nights
Everything included in the Palio Weekend, plus an additional day of behind-the-scenes access to the traditions, people, and rituals that make the Palio unlike anything else in the world.
Stay at Castello del Calcione
A historic Tuscan estate in the heart of the countryside, hosted by a family whose connection to the Palio spans generations.
Capacity: 2 to 20 Guests
Dates: 14th to 17th August
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Everything included in the Palio Weekend, plus an exclusive additional day before the festivities begin.
August 14th: Day 1 | Arrival at Castello del Calcione
Arrive at the estate and settle into your accommodation before spending the afternoon at leisure. Unwind by the pool, explore the grounds, or enjoy a swim in the freshwater lakes before aperitivo and dinner at the castle.
August 15th: Day 2 | Contrada Dinner
On the eve of the Palio, Siena comes alive with one of its most cherished traditions. Long communal tables fill the streets as each Contrada gathers to celebrate together before race day.
Through your hosts' longstanding local connections, you'll join one of these unforgettable dinners alongside the Contrada, sharing exceptional food, local wine, and the anticipation that builds before one of Italy's most extraordinary events.
August 16th: Day 3 | Palio Day
Spend the morning in Siena as the city prepares for the Palio, witnessing the traditional blessing of the horses before exploring the historic streets as celebrations unfold.
After lunch, watch all 17 Contrade parade through the city in magnificent medieval dress, accompanied by flag throwers, drummers, and centuries-old ceremony.
Later, enjoy the Palio from the comfort of a private apartment overlooking Piazza del Campo. With aperitivo in hand, Trecciolino, the legendary 13-time Palio winner, shares his unique insight into the history, rivalries, and tactics of the race before the action begins.
After the race, celebrate alongside the victorious Contrada as the streets fill with music, flags, and jubilation before gathering for dinner in Siena.
August 17th: Day 4 | Farewell Tuscany
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before one final morning at Castello del Calcione. Relax by the pool, take a swim in the estate's freshwater lakes, or simply savour the peaceful surroundings before departing.
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Everything included in the Palio Weekend, plus an exclusive additional day before the festivities begin.
August 13th: Day 1 | Arrival at Castello del Calcione
Arrive at the estate and settle into your accommodation before spending the afternoon at leisure. Unwind by the pool, explore the grounds, or enjoy a swim in the freshwater lakes before aperitivo and dinner at the castle.
August 14th: Day 2 | The Tratta & The Assegnazione
Spend the day with Selvaggia for an insider's introduction to the traditions that shape the Palio before the celebrations begin.
Witness The Tratta, where the horses are officially drawn for the ten competing Contrade, followed by The Assegnazione, the emotional ceremony where each Contrada welcomes its assigned horse and the city's excitement truly begins.
Return to Castello del Calcione for an evening horseback ride through the estate before dinner at one of the region's favourite local restaurants.
August 15th: Day 3 | Contrada Dinner
On the eve of the Palio, Siena comes alive with one of its most cherished traditions. Long communal tables fill the streets as each Contrada gathers to celebrate together before race day.
Through your hosts' longstanding local connections, you'll join one of these unforgettable dinners alongside the Contrada, sharing exceptional food, local wine, and the anticipation that builds before one of Italy's most extraordinary events.
August 16th: Day 4 | Palio Day
Spend the morning in Siena as the city prepares for the Palio, witnessing the traditional blessing of the horses before exploring the historic streets as celebrations unfold.
After lunch, watch all 17 Contrade parade through the city in magnificent medieval dress, accompanied by flag throwers, drummers, and centuries-old ceremony.
Later, enjoy the Palio from the comfort of a private apartment overlooking Piazza del Campo. With aperitivo in hand, Trecciolino, the legendary 13-time Palio winner, shares his unique insight into the history, rivalries, and tactics of the race before the action begins.
After the race, celebrate alongside the victorious Contrada as the streets fill with music, flags, and jubilation before gathering for dinner in Siena.
August 17th: Day 5 | Farewell Tuscany
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before one final morning at Castello del Calcione. Relax by the pool, take a swim in the estate's freshwater lakes, or simply savour the peaceful surroundings before departing.
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Option 1 | Palio Weekend (3 Nights)
Accommodation: £1,500 per room
Includes:
Three nights at Castello del Calcione
Accommodation in one of ten double bedrooms
Daily Breakfast
Experience: £1,000 per person
Includes:
Two dinners and one lunch (including wine)
Private apartment viewing of La Prova (the official rehearsal race) with aperitivo
Commentary from Trecciolino, legendary 13-time Palio winner
Contrada dinner on the eve of the Palio (including wine)
Option 2 | Full Palio Immersion (4 Nights)
Accommodation: £1,650 per room
Includes:
Four nights at Castello del Calcione
Accommodation in one of ten double bedrooms
Daily Breakfast
Experience: £1,500 per person
Everything included in the Palio Weekend, plus:
An additional day experiencing The Tratta and The Assegnazione with Selvaggia as your guide
An evening horseback ride through the estate (or your choice of an alternative estate experience)
An additional dinner at the estate
Not Included
Flights
Lunch on Palio Day (to be enjoyed independently while exploring Siena)
Airport transfers (car hire is recommended; private transfers to and from Siena and the airport can be arranged upon request)
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Official Palio Race Window Upgrade
Your Palio experience includes a private apartment viewing of La Prova (the official rehearsal race) with aperitivo and commentary from Trecciolino.
For guests wishing to experience the official Palio race from a private apartment overlooking Piazza del Campo, a limited number of private windows are available.
Available from £1,000 per person.
Alternative viewing options include:
Reserved seating in Piazza del Campo (approximately £500 per person)
Standing in the piazza (free and highly recommended)
Estate Experiences
Guests joining the Full Palio Immersion may exchange the included horseback ride for:
Wine tasting
Olive oil tasting
Truffle hunting
Guided bike ride
Canoeing
Additional activities available throughout your stay:
Wild swimming
Hiking
Tennis
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The Calcione Estate is located in the heart of Tuscany, 40mn car ride from Siena.
How to get there:
Flight to Florence. Car ride from the airport to the Estate about 1h20mn.
The Palio di Siena
First raced in 1633, the Palio di Siena is one of Italy's oldest and most fiercely protected traditions. Far more than a horse race, it is four extraordinary days of ritual, rivalry, and celebration that transform the city of Siena.
Hosted from Castello del Calcione, a remarkable Tuscan estate that has remained in the same family since 1483, you'll experience the Palio through the people who know it best. From private Contrada celebrations and exclusive local access to unforgettable race-day moments, this is an insider's perspective on an event few visitors ever truly experience.
For four days each year, Siena belongs entirely to the Palio. This journey offers a rare opportunity to experience it not as a spectator, but as a welcomed guest.
THE PALIO RACE EXPLAINED
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What is the Palio?
First raced on horseback in 1633, the Palio di Siena evolved from the medieval games once held in Piazza del Campo. Today, it is far more than a horse race. It is the culmination of centuries-old rivalries between Siena's Contrade, where ten neighbourhoods compete in a dramatic bareback race through the city's historic square.
The Palio takes place twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in honour of Siena's patron saints and remains one of Italy's oldest and most fiercely protected traditions.
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The Contrade
At the heart of the Palio are Siena's seventeen Contrade, each with its own history, traditions, colours, and enduring rivalries.
More than neighbourhoods, they are communities bound by generations of shared identity, making the Palio as much a celebration of heritage as it is a horse race.
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The Jockeys
Known as ragatii, the jockeys ride bareback and are renowned for their extraordinary skill, courage, and tactical instinct.
With so much at stake, the race is fiercely contested, and in one of the Palio's most remarkable traditions, a horse can still be declared the winner even if it crosses the finish line without its jockey.
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The Race & The Prize
Ten of Siena's seventeen Contrade compete in each Palio, with horses assigned by lottery just days before the race. Lasting little more than three laps of Piazza del Campo, the race is thrilling, unpredictable, and governed by very few rules, with jockeys free to jostle, block, and challenge one another in pursuit of victory.
The winning Contrada is awarded the Palio, a hand-painted silk banner that represents honour, pride, and bragging rights until the next race.
Meet Your Host, Selvaggia
One of the few women training horses for the Palio di Siena, Selvaggia leads the Scuderia at Castello del Calcione, where she breeds and prepares racehorses for one of Italy's oldest and most fiercely protected traditions.
Through her lifelong connection to the Palio, guests are welcomed into private celebrations, local customs, and an insider's perspective on Siena that few visitors ever experience.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Your stay at Selvaggia’s family estate: Il Castello del Calcione.
Set in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, Castello del Calcione has remained in the same family since 1483. Surrounded by ancient woodlands, olive groves, and freshwater lakes, it offers a peaceful setting just outside Siena and serves as your home throughout the journey.
When you're not immersed in the Palio, spend your time relaxing by the pool, playing tennis, exploring the estate, or meeting the racehorses bred and trained by Selvaggia. The experience can also be tailored for private groups, with exclusive use of the estate available for up to 20 guests.
THE ITINERARY
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Day 1: Arrival at Castello del Calcione
Settle into Castello del Calcione, your home for the journey. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, swimming in the freshwater lakes, or exploring the estate before gathering for aperitivo and a welcome dinner at the castle.
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Day 2: The Tratta and The Assegnazione
Not includede in the 3-Day Palio Weekend Experience
Join Selvaggia for an insider's introduction to the Palio, witnessing The Tratta and The Assegnazione before following a Contrada as they celebrate the arrival of their horse.
Return to Castello del Calcione for an evening horseback ride through the estate, followed by dinner at the castle or a favourite local restaurant.
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Day 3: Prova & Contrada Dinner
Following the final trial race, each Contrada gathers for a communal dinner in the streets of Siena. Through your host's local connections, you'll join the celebrations, sharing exceptional food, local wine, and one of the Palio's most cherished traditions.
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Day 4: Race Day
Spend the day immersed in the excitement of the Palio, from the historic parade of the Contrade to the legendary bareback horse race in Piazza del Campo. Celebrate into the evening as Siena comes alive with music, tradition, and festivities.
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Day 5: Farewells & Departures
Enjoy one final breakfast at Castello del Calcione before a leisurely morning at the estate. Take a last swim, explore the grounds, or simply soak in the Tuscan countryside before departing.
