The Palio di Siena is a wild horse race that goes down twice a year in Siena, Italy. Picture this: ten horses and riders, decked out in their contrada's colors, tearing around the Piazza del Campo like there's no tomorrow. It's a big deal for the locals, with each contrada (neighborhood) rooting for their horse to win. The race lasts just 90 seconds, but it's packed with drama – jockeys flying off, riderless horses crossing the finish line, and all that jazz. And hey, winning horse? It gets a fancy painted silk banner as a trophy. Talk about high stakes!
The race has been going on twice a year since the 1200s!! Rivalries lasting generations!
The winner of the races hold bragging rights all year, and sometimes one neighborhood will go on a 30 year run of winning!
The races are only on July 2 and August 16