The Corteo Storico is a historical costume parade in

Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

, Italy. It takes place before the famous horse race known as the

Palio Palio is the name given in Italy to an annual athletic contest, very often of a historical character, pitting the neighbourhoods of a town or the hamlets of a ''comune'' against each other. Typically, they are fought in costume and commemorate so ...

on the 2nd of July and on August 16, each year.

Description

The parade has always occurred before the

since the race's inception. It is a formally choreographed triumphal march that commemorates the ancient institutions, customs and greatness of the Republic of

. Special attention is given to the

Contrade A ''contrada'' (plural: ''contrade'') is generally a district within the Italian countryside. In the city of Siena, the term indicates the 17 urban wards, whose representatives race on horseback in the Palio di Siena, run twice every year in July ...

whose participants form the main part of the parade. The parade takes place in the

Piazza del Campo Piazza del Campo is the main piazza, public space of the historic center of Siena, a city in Tuscany, Italy, Its name comes from the Italian language, Italian word ''campanilismo,'' which translates to "local pride" and ''campanile'' "bell tower." ...

with 14 groups and a total of almost seven hundred participants. In the early afternoon, on the day of the

, members of the town gather in the courtyard of the Palace of Justice and under the command of the field marshal, line-up in Piazza del Duomo next to the cathedral. They parade between the crowd on both sides of the streets called: Via del Capitano, Piazza Postierla, Via San Pietro, Via del Casato di Sopra and Via del Casato di Sotto where they join the other members of the parade. The procession enters the Piazza del Campo on the first toll of the bell (the "Sunto") on the Torre del Mangia. Seventeen pairs of flag-bearers stop at the various points in the Piazza and in synchrony with the drum roll perform a spectacular flag-waving exhibition culminating with the throwing of the flag at the end. The parade marches to the "passo della Diana" ("passo" means step), the musicians of Palazzo play the march of the Palio of the maestro Formichi while the city trumpeters play on silver trumpets. The central focus of the procession is the passing of the

Carroccio A carroccio (; ) was a large four-wheeled wagon bearing the city signs around which the militia of the medieval communes gathered and fought. It was particularly common among the Lombard, Tuscan and, more generally, northern Italian municipali ...

, the modern counterpart of the Republic's ancient triumphal chariot on which the silken colourful Palio banner is hoisted. After circling the square, the parade members take their places. The Palio is hoisted on to the judges stand while the seventeen flag-bearers perform their own drum roll, "la sbandierata della Vittoria" (the flag-waving of Victory), so called because it was introduced at the end of World War I.

Composition of the Parade

*The

parade A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually some variety ...

starts with 6 Mazzieri (Pole-bearers). *A

Horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 mi ...

follows the

standard-bearer A standard-bearer, also known as a colour-bearer or flag-bearer, is a person who bears an emblem known as a standard or military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as ...

on the "Balzana" icon accompanied by four of Siena's commanders. *Then the musicians of Palazzo advance, preceded by drums and silver trumpets that set the pace of the procession. *These are followed by the insignia of the city, "potesteria", that represent the lands and castles of the ancient Sienese state above the standard-bearers and their replacements from the municipality of Massa Marittima and the municipality of Montalcino, which guard this historical privilege. *The captain of the people rides with a

page Page most commonly refers to: * Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to: Roles * Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation * Page (servant), traditionally a young m ...

, preceded by a standard-bearer, 3

dagger A dagger is a fighting knife with a very sharp point and usually one or two sharp edges, typically designed or capable of being used as a cutting or stabbing, thrusting weapon.State v. Martin, 633 S.W.2d 80 (Mo. 1982): This is the dictionary or ...

bearing pages, with

helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protecti ...

s and

sword A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...

s, followed by 3 gonfaloniers, the "Terzi" on horseback, and three

centurion In the Roman army during classical antiquity, a centurion (; , . ; , or ), was a commander, nominally of a century (), a military unit originally consisting of 100 legionaries. The size of the century changed over time; from the 1st century BC ...

s of "Masse dei Terzi", also on horseback, all accompanied by grooms. *In the next group is represents the Studio Senese (Senese means from Siena), it includes two

drummers A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums. Most contemporary western bands that play rock, pop, jazz, or R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeeping and embellishing the musical timbre. The drummer's eq ...

, a

, a rector, four teachers and four students. *The standard-bearer and 3 of the Magistrates Merchandise preceded by two

followed by six representatives of each

Contrada Contrada may refer to: * Contrada, Campania, town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy * Bruno Contrada, former police chief of Palermo and deputy director of the civil intelligence service SISDE See also * Contrade< ...

preceded by a

who rears the banner of each of the

guilds A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

of each

: **Tailors Valdimontone (Valley of the Ram), **Pharmacists Pantera (Panther), **Sculptors Tartuca (Tortoise), **Weavers Selva (Forest), **Dye makers Oca (Goose), **Bankers Drago (Dragon), **Potters Nicchio (Seashell), **Goldsmiths Leocorno (Unicorn), **Notaries Aquila (Eagle), **Silk Makers Bruco (Caterpillar), **Cobblers Civetta (Little Owl), **Wool makers Torre (Tower), **Painters Giraffa (Giraffe), **Carpenters Onda (Wave), **Bakers Lupa (She-Wolf), **Tanners Chiocciola (Snail), **Smiths Istrice (Crested Porcupine). *A page bearing the "Masgalano" (prize for the best "pop") with two pages following. *Contrada parade of the ten in the race. Each appearance is as follows: a drummer, two

bishops A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

, the "Duce" escorted by two armed men, then more pages holding the banner of the

flanked by two pages bearing the flags of the military companies. On a large horse (called the "soprallasso") escorted by a groom, is the jockey in ceremonial dress, followed the horse which is racing. Contradas participating in the Palio enter the order determined by the drawn lots. *A double row of six little pages bearing the symbolic garlands, form division with the Contrade excluded from this Palio. *The appearance of the 7 Contrade not participating consist of the following elements: the drummer, two

, a leader escorted by two soldiers, Major page and Banner Carrier with two pages bearing the flags of the old military companies. *This is followed by six knights

pages Page most commonly refers to: * Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to: Roles * Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation * Page (servant), traditionally a young mal ...

, representatives Contradas which no longer exist (Gallo, Lion, Bear, Oak, Spadaforte, Viper). *20

archers Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a Bow and arrow, bow to shooting, shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting ...

preceded by a page flag holder by the Captain, 2 and 4 drummers. *Following these the Captain of Justice with a horse and

Page Page most commonly refers to: * Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to: Roles * Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation * Page (servant), traditionally a young m ...

, escorted by four armed soldiers. *The procession is closed by the Carroccio (cart) pulled by four oxen. on the Carroccio are the Balia, the bearer of the Palio, a valet who plays the "Martinella" and 6 trumpeters. *The

is accompanied by eight soldiers armed with Roncone and is followed by six knights representing many old noble families of Siena: Pannocchieschi d'Elci, Piccolomini, Salimbeni, Salvani, Tolomei, Ugurgieri . *The historical

procession A procession is an organized body of people walking in a formal or ceremonial manner. History Processions have in all peoples and at all times been a natural form of public celebration, as forming an orderly and impressive ceremony. Religious ...

ends with six pages bearing a

laurel wreath A laurel wreath is a symbol of triumph, a wreath (attire), wreath made of connected branches and leaves of the bay laurel (), an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. It was also later made from spineless butcher's broom (''Ruscus hypoglossum'') or cher ...

Gallery

File:Tamburi lg palio provenzano 2007 (2).jpg, The drums in the early part of the Historic Parade File:Gonfalonieri dei Terzi.JPG, The gonfalonieri of the Three terraces of Siena File:Vessillifero del comune.JPG, The standard-bearer of the City File:Contrade soppresse.JPG, Representatives of the Abolished Contrade with removed helmets File:Palio - Civetta.JPG, Civetta's flag bearer during the Corteo Storico File:Palio - Onda.JPG, Onda's Comparsa during the Corteo Storico before the Palio

References

Corteo storico (Palio di Siena) (Wikipedia in Italian) * Alan Dundes, Alessandro Falassi. ''La terra in Piazza: an interpretation of the Palio of Siena''. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1975. * Alan Dundes, Alessandro Falassi, foto di Gigi Lusini. ''La terra in piazza. Antropologia del Palio'', trad. italiana. Siena, Nuova Immagine Editrice, 2005.

External links

YouTube video showing the Corteo Storico for Palio Di Siena on 2 July 2007

YouTube video showing the Carroccio for PALIO DI SIENA 2 July 2007

YouTube video showing the start of the parade from via San Pietro towards The Piazza del Campo - 2 July 2007

www.jacopodellatorre.com
information on how to best follow the Historical Parade {{Siena landmarks Siena Italian traditions Festivals in Italy Tourist attractions in Tuscany