1) The Palio can see crowds upwards of 40,000, so it gets busy. Standing in the Piazza del Campo is free as are other areas around the periphery of the track.
2) The Palio was first held in 1482 as a civic celebration. The current course was formally established in 1659 and has been held semiannually on July 2 and on August 16 since 1701, except during wartimes. Lasting about a minute, the race consists of three turns around the Piazza del Campo, the main city square.
3) The Palio di Siena (Italian pronunciation known locally simply as Il Palio) is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards.
