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2023 Rex Procession
“Palio di Siena”
Much as Carnival helps define New Orleans, the centuries-old traditions of the Palio help define the ancient Tuscan city of Siena, Italy. The Corsa del Palio, the Race of the Banner, is an ancient Italian horse racing tradition tracing its roots to the Republic of Siena’s “golden age” in the 13th century. Annually, two horse races – one in July and one in August – occur in the Piazza del Campo, the city’s main square, which is transformed into a dirt-packed track covering a third of a mile.
