After a 2 year pause due to the pandemic, Piazza del Campo will be crowded yet again this weekend thanks to the inimitable madness made in Siena called Palio. This ancient race is so peculiar to be completely incomprehensible to whoever wasn't born and raised under the Torre del Mangia. Instead of wasting your time in a long monologue to explain you what makes this event unique, we have decided to focus on five aspects of this race that are really interesting. In the full episode you will find out why it took centuries to distill the particular blend of madness named Palio and how it was the "contrade" to be instrumental in the process. We will discover together how going from 42 to 17 contrade was particularly complicated and how the famous "drappellone" isn't the only award given to the winner of the Palio. We will also talk about the very curious nickname that Senesi have for one of the contrade and how it was linked to a curse that kept the Chiocciola away from a win in the Piazza for 23 years. In the final chapter we will tell you the most peculiar stories of those mad men that risk their lives on the burning turf every year. From the jockey that shot the angry fans to the one that was knifed because he didn't perform as expected to the infamous "Fiammifero", the jockey that was disqualified for life after throwing away a race he had already won. From the complicated diplomacy between the contrade to the unexplainable passion that makes the contradaioli cheer more for the defeats of their enemies rather than their wins, our journey into the strange universe of the Palio has many surprises in store for you. Do you like this kind of episode? Do you find our podcasts too long or boring? Let us know by dropping us an email or a direct message on our social media accounts. Every feedback is precious!
Email: podcast@larno.it
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Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://www.tuscanypeople.com/palio-di-siena/
https://www.magnaromagna.it/leggende/palio-di-siena/
https://www.ilpalio.org/aneddoti_onda01.htm
https://www.ilpalio.org/aneddoti_chiocciola03.htm
https://www.sienanews.it/cultura/randellone-il-fantino-provocatore/
https://www.sienanews.it/cultura/bubbolo-e-le-budella-in-mano/
https://www.oksiena.it/news/storia-del-palio-fiammifero-il-fantino-infedele-120516111458.html

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Mapping the Stars (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Summercycle (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - A Midnight on Jaquay (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Pick you up (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Gemini (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/summercycle-original-indie-style-instrumental-creative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-a-midnight-on-jaquay-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/pick-you-up-slow-poprock-style-instrumental-creative-commons
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pipe_Choir/SGONS_Instrumentals/Pipe_Gemini_Instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/