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How to book tickets for taking part in the Siena Palio
The Siena Palio takes place twice a year, on July the second and August the sixteenth. This centuries-old tradition is notoriously hard to take part in, and tickets are always in short supply. We're able to offer a wide range of packages, most of which are exclusive to us for the time being. Below are the three most popular offerings ... if you're interested in some special private tours then please see further down the page.
Siena Palio - ticket plus trial-run meal, terrace or gallery sets.
A ticket to view the Palio from either a terrace of one of the balconies ringing the piazza or from a seat in specially-erected galleries ringing the Piazza del Campo, plus participation in one of the meals that follows the Palio trial run - prova generale - the night before the main event. The winner of the prova is deemed to be blessed with good fortune, and the following 'cena' - meal - is a lively one, full of song and bluster. To book either of these packages (Palio ticket, meal and assistance from on-site staff) use the links here below. The cost is Euro 460 per person for the terrace option or Euro 580 for the gallery seats.
Palio terrace ticket (€460) and meal: for July 2nd 2012 or for August 16th 2012.
Palio gallery ticket (€580) and meal: for July 2nd 2012 or for August 16th 2012.
Siena Palio - trial run ticket and meal.
Tickets for the Palio are not cheap, but it's still possible to experience the heady atmosphere of Siena at Palio time at a slightly more attainable price. The day before the main races sees the running of the trial runs, the prova generale; at around 6.30 in the evening you'll be seated on the stands around the square to watch the final practice runs.
The atmosphere here is hardly less charged than it will be the next day as the winning contrada is deemed to be blessed with good fortune. Again, there is a lively meal after these trials, full of song and bluster, and you may well be so taken up by things that you'll buy a silk scarf in the colours of 'your' contrada. To book this package (Palio trial-run ticket, meal and assistance from on-site staff) use the links here below. The cost is Euro 180 per person.
Reserve Palio trial-run ticket and meal: for July 1st 2012 or for August 15th 2012.
Siena Palio - a range of private, fully accompanied tours.
Below we are also able to offer a range of private tours. These are special offerings - you'll have your own private guide on the day, whether your group is two or ten people, and the price reflects this exclusivity. Some of the packages cover the trial runs that take place the day before, some cover both the trials and the main race, whilst others offer meals and complete hands-on service. Read on down the page for booking details, perhaps looking here for some further information on the Palio and its history.
To begin the booking process for a 2012 Palio tour package please select below the month that interests you and you'll then be shown the various booking options open to you. Further down the page you'll find details of exactly what each option represents - you'll also find information on cancellation policy.
A. Gallery seats, Fonte Gaia area.
The following offerings (options 1 to 6) will see you viewing the Palio from the specially-erected galleries ringing the Piazza del Campo - closer to the action you cannot get. The main difference between the various packages is in the length of the preceding visit and guided tour and in whether or not you opt for lunch to be included. Guides speak Italian, English, French, German and Spanish, and all packages in this group include your ticket (for a numbered seat) as well as assistance from on-site staff at all times.
Option 1. A guided tour lasting six hours on the morning of the Palio. You'll have exclusive accompanied visits to a museum of one of the contrada: a visit to the ancient costume rooms of the 'Drappelloni' (the banner or 'palio' awarded to the victors) and to a contrada chapel. You'll also have a light lunch, with your guide, of typical Sienese products in an enoteca or taverna in the centre of old Siena.
Option 2. Much as option 1 but with the morning tours lasting three hours, not six, and therefore taking in a bit less of the history - no chapel visit, for example. Lunch included.
Option 3. All of option 1 plus, the night before the Palio, a visit, accompanied by your guide, to the 'Cena della prova generale'. The day before the main races sees the running of the trial runs, the prova generale, and the winner here is deemed to be blessed with good fortune. The following 'cena' - meal - is a lively one, full of song and bluster, and you may well be so taken up by things that you'll buy a silk scarf in the colours of 'your' contrada.
Option 4. This is simply option 2 without the lunch.
Option 5. Guided tour of three hours, plus your ticket. No museum or chapel visits, no lunch.
Option 6. Guided tour of six hours, plus your ticket. No museum or chapel visits, no lunch.
B. Terrace places
The following offerings (options 8 to 10) will see you viewing the Palio from a terrace, standing to view the race from a terrace/balcony, pretty much over the heads of where you'd be if you were sitting 'up close'. As with the gallery options above, the price varies according to length of tour, what you'll be visiting and whether or not you opt for included lunch. And, again as with the gallery options, all of the following include your ticket as well as assistance from on-site staff at all times.
Option 8. Terrace ticket plus three hour tour as covered in option 2 above.
Option 9. Terrace ticket, three hour tour, lunch.
Option 10. A combination package - terrace ticket, three hour visit, lunch and night-before trial run meal.
Other options
Option 11. All bells and whistles here (please note, July only). The accompanied visit to the night-before meal after the trial runs, the six hour tour with visits to museum, costume rooms and chapel, lunch, assistance and, to top it all, exclusive use of a terrace with adjoining room where you'll enjoy a hot and cold buffet, seasonal fruits, drinks and a welcome cocktail. Payment for this package will be via bank transfer.
Cancellation policy
Payment is due in full at the time of order confirmation and will be charged to the credit card supplied during the checkout procedure. The moment that your order is confirmed and payment has been processed then you'll receive an email with full details on how to print your voucher and how your voucher will be exchanged for tickets.
In the unfortunate event of you needing to cancel your visit then please note that Palio tickets are non-refundable. They may, however, be transferred to another person or persons.
In the event of rain the main Palio race will be postponed until the following day and your tickets are valid for the rescheduled race. Cancellations of the Palio race (or the rescheduled race), or the Contrada dinner or the guided tours due to extraordinary weather conditions are not refundable.
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