SIENA. Siena is preparing for the Palio on Sunday, August 16. After the victory of the Onda in the first trial and the success of the Giraffa in the second, anticipation is growing for the Palio dell’Assunta 2026. Among the protagonists are Tittia, Scompiglio, Gingillo, and Velluto. Siena is now completely immersed in the atmosphere of the Palio. On Sunday, August 16, Piazza del Campo will once again transform into the stage for the Carriera dell’Assunta, one of the most heartfelt events in the Sienese tradition. Ten Contrade will compete for the Drappellone dedicated to the Madonna dell’Assunta, in a race where predictions, rivalries, strategy, and unpredictability will once again mix. The lineup of participants includes Selva, Chiocciola, Oca, Nicchio, Lupa, Istrice, Torre, Aquila, Onda, and Giraffa. The last three – Aquila, Onda, and Giraffa – were drawn by lot on July 5 and joined the seven Contrade already included by right.
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The ten pairings
After the assignment of horses on August 13, the Contrade completed their choices. Here are the official pairings. Selva: Grandine – Canarinu. Chiocciola: Scompiglio – Arestetulesu. Oca: Spago – Diamante Sauro. Nicchio: Tittia – Anda e Bola. Lupa: Velluto – Diodoro. Istrice: Tamurè – Ares Elce. Torre: Gingillo – Donrodrigo. Aquila: Brigante – Benitos. Onda: Virgola – Viso d’Angelo. Giraffa: Turbine – Euskaldi. It is especially some names that attract attention. In Nicchio there is Giovanni Atzeni called Tittia, fresh from the July triumph with Aquila, while Lupa fields Diodoro, a horse that has already won two Palii out of three appearances and that won the July Carriera. Aquila and Nicchio have also received already victorious horses, respectively Benitos and Anda e Bola.
The July precedent
The Palio dell’Assunta comes after a memorable July Carriera. On July 3, Aquila ended a drought that lasted since 1992, returning to victory after 34 years. Riding Diodoro, Tittia achieved his twelfth personal success, confirming himself as the most winning jockey among those currently active. The August challenge could therefore offer Tittia the chance to continue an extraordinary moment, this time with the colors of Nicchio and on Anda e Bola. The indications from the tufa are already interesting. The first trial, held on Thursday, August 13, was won by Onda with Andrea Sanna called Virgola on Viso d’Angelo. Yesterday, Friday, August 14, the success of Giraffa arrived, with Elias Mannucci, called Turbine, on Euskaldi. The third trial took place in the late afternoon and Giraffa won again. Important indications, but not yet sufficient to establish a hierarchy. In the Palio, in fact, the trials can suggest a direction without necessarily anticipating the result of the Carriera.
Curiosities
Nicchio is the Contrada that has gone the longest without winning. The grandmother of the Palio, as they say: it is the Contrada that has not won since 1998. Now it has excellent chances. The jockey Giovanni Atzeni called Tittia aims to surpass the record of Aceto, who is the most winning jockey in the history of the Palio with 14 victories. For now, Atzeni is at 12 and could therefore approach and surpass Aceto.
The Drappellone and the race
The Drappellone was created by the artist Teodora Axente and is dedicated to the Madonna dell’Assunta. The start will be managed by Renato Bircolotti. The Ferragosto program includes the fourth trial at 9 and the general trial at 19:15. On Sunday, August 16 at 9 it will be time for the Provaccia, before the big afternoon event. The day of the Palio will come alive in the afternoon: the historical parade is scheduled for 16:50, while the horses’ exit from the Cortile del Podestà is planned for 19:00. Then will come the most awaited moment: the horses between the canapi, the start, and those three laps of Piazza del Campo capable of changing the history of a Contrada in a few minutes.
