Guisi and Carmen, early birds on their way to Siena to get the worm.
Guisi, Magnus, and Carmen below an interesting room.
Motorinos in the year...?
Motorino, Guisi, and Paulo, circa...?
La Piazza del Campo, starting to fill up for the race.
Walking the race track.
The hairy hair-pin turn beneath the clock tower.
Apartments overlooking the piazza are charged by the city if their windows are open during the palio.
Paulo next to the starting line in la Piazza del Campo, on the packed dirt track built for the race.
Tickets for seats along the outside of the track sell out months in advance, for hundreds of dollars a pop.
The rules and regulations of the Palio.
The clock tower in la Piazza del Campo.
We are Legion, Part I.
The gate into Contrada della Chiocciola.
Via San Marco, festooned with Chiocciola's red and yellow.
Fueling up for the race in the contrada.
Guisi demonstrating the Magic Flying Napkin.
Carmen in front of the Casa del Cavallo.
One of the trainers leading our horse into the Casa del Cavallo in preparation for the race.
La chiesa di San Marco, a center of life in the contrada.
The team with our Chiocciola flags in front of Chiesa San Marco.
A holy pause inside Chiesa San Marco, awaiting our horse and then the afternoon's fervor.
The blessing of our horse inside Chiesa San Marco - the priest's traditional last words: "Go and return victorious!"
The horse leaving - you could hear a pin drop for fear of spooking him.
Just after the blessing of the horse, the flag waving and marching began.
Paulo showing Chiocciola pride.
Carmen and Guisi in la contrada; evidence of the previous evening's festivities lines the street.
Heading out from the blessing of the horse, up towards the center.
Not our jockey, but a ceremonial rider; not the race horse, but a mellow veteran of the parades.
La contrada thronging towards la piazza, red and yellow everywhere.
Fee Phi Foe Phum!
Guisi and I at the fountain of la Contrada dell'Aquila (Eagle).
We are Legion, Part II.
The drum and flag corps of la contrada della Selva (Forest).
Hi ho, hi ho - it's off to the Palio I go.
Where can I get a hat like that?
Yarrrr! I bleed orange and white.
The throngs converge, just outside the piazza.
Carmen, Guisi, and I at the fountain of la Pantera.
Brass and drum corps in medieval garb.
Hold your tongue, straniero.
Looking into la contrada dell'Onda (Wave).
Piazza del Duomo, looking straight at the unfinished nave.
Inside il Duomo, with the flags of the contrade.
The Palio, give to the contrada that wins the race.
We are Legion, Part III.
The flag corps parading through la Piazza del Duomo.
Flags of la Oca, the contrada with the most victories and uniquely no allies (the Yankees of Siena).
Chioccola's flags in mid-air, in front of the bishop and other city eminences.
The coordinated flag tossing - contrada dell'Oca.
Inside the headquarters of la Chiocciola, watching the pre-race festivities and anxiously waiting for the Palio itself.
The supporters of il Leocorno, winning contrada, in il Duomo.
Let the months of celebration begin!
