“Palio di San Valentino” | Bientina

The Palio di Bientina, also known as the Palio di San Valentino, has been held for 30 years on the third Sunday of July in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. Like the more famous Palio di Siena, it is a horse race between the town’s contrade (districts) that compete to win the coveted cencio after days of passion.

A week before the race Bientina goes into turmoil: the race ground is prepared, with a special layer of earth made from a mixture of tuff, clay and sand, so that the track is soft for the horses.
Tuesday: competition between musicians and flag-wavers
Thursday: presentation of the cencio at Villa Pacini
Saturday: historical procession in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele

Sunday morning the provaccia and the delivery of the oil of St Valentine by the outgoing winning contrada. At 17.00 the Palio begins. The mossiere calls to the canapo the nine contrade, which after the draw are divided into two batteries: one of five and one of four. The first two finishers of each battery go into the final, which decides the winner after three laps of the square.

The history of the Palio has ancient origins. The first document dates back as far as 25 May 1786. The modern version is more recent and dates back to 1993. The first challenges took place at the sports ground, but since 2001 the natural setting of the Palio is the central Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. The names of the nine contrade are: Centro Storico, Guerrazzi, Il Cilecchio, Il Puntone, Il Villaggio, La Forra, Quattro Strade, Santa Colomba, Viarella.