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How to buy tickets
to the Palio

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THE PALIO OF 2009 IS NOW SOLD OUT.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST FOR 2010.
WE WILL CONTACT YOU IN LATE SEPTEMBER
WHEN THE CITY OF SIENA AUTHORIZES FUTURE SALES.

Make Il Palio an experience you’ll never forget. Take your place among our excellent seats in the southwest corner of the Campo. These reserved seats are in the bleachers or on the terrace, and you'll be pleased to know that this is the first corner of the Campo to receive the afternoon shade. Because Il Palio is one of the most popular events in the world, and because there is a very limited number of seats available to the public, these tickets always sell quickly. Our Palio package also includes a pageant program, a street map of Siena, local restaurant suggestions, and a witty insider’s explanation of each exciting phase of Il Palio. Attendance at the rehearsal banquet is optional.

If you're interested in attending the Palio, you have two basic options:

  1. You can stand in the Piazza. The advantages are that it is free of charge and it gives you a great opportunity to mix with the locals. Since the Piazza is raked, almost anywhere you stand affords a good vantage point for most of the race. The disadvantages are that since the race track actually encloses the Piazza, the fences are closed before the pageant (about 4:30) and it is impossible to leave until the race is completed (about 8:00). Also, the Piazza is in the sun most of the afternoon, so if you do choose this option, be sure to take along a parasol or at least a hat to cool you off.

  2. We offer reservations with full sight lines facing the Campo front-on. These are all in private homes owned by people who have been hosting our guests for years now and include, for 2009:

Piazza del Campo
From our terrace

All our seats and windows are sold first-come-first-served, so we urge you to request price and booking information as soon as you can. Reservations are made pending full non-refundable payment by Visa or Mastercard. At that time we will mail you a Palio packet with a program, instructions, map and much more useful information. If your first choice is not available we will ask you before booking any alternative.

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For information about prices or to reserve your tickets for the Palio or banquet, contact In Italy. We regret that the July Palio is totally sold out; there are still a few spots left for August, 2009.

Here are the contrade that will compete in August, 2009:
Chiocciola
Civetta
Lupa
Onda
Pantera
Istrice
Leocorno
Torre
Aquila
Giraffa