Palio Di Siena Tickets And Palio Experience: Get our Palio di Siena Tickets to be immersed into this gorgeous horse race. Horse Races were very common in every major medieval Tuscan city, and such a race is still celebrated today in Siena. The name ‘palio’ comes from the painted silk cloth, pallium, awarded to the winner. The Palio is a thrilling race between ten horses (barberi), whose jockeys ride bareback, and each represent a specific Contrada (historic neighbourhood) of Siena. The race takes place in Campo Square twice a year: once on July 2nd in honour of Our Lady of Provenzano and once on August 16th in honour of Our Lady of Assumption.