The Palio of Siena
Italy’s Greatest Spectacle
Tour Dates
12 – 18 August 2025
Tour Cost
€3,650 per person
Single supplement: €385
The Palio horse race in Siena is one of the most spectacular festivals in Italy. It takes place twice a year, on 2nd July and 16th August. It is, however, much more than one race on the one day. It is the apex of months of preparation and the Palio itself is a 4-day festival. To watch it on TV or read about it in the paper, or even to stand in the square and experience the race itself is only scratching the surface of a fabulous tradition. This exclusive tour brings you the “Quattro giorni del Palio” and immerses you in the rituals and folklore of the Palio together with the signature food, wine, walking and attention to detail of Hedonistic Hiking.
The pick-up and drop-off points for this tour are Pisa Airport and Pisa Centrale train station. Why not consider extending your walking holiday in Italy by visiting Florence, Pisa or Rome? For more ideas on where to go visit our City Guide page.
What’s Included?
- Grandstand tickets for Historical Parade and Palio Horse Race – 16th August
- Siena Contrada Museum Tour
- Contrada Dinner – night before the race day
- Horse Blessing – day of the race
- All meals as per itinerary (dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 7)
- Transfers and all transport ex. Pisa in air-conditioned minibus
- Exclusive services of Hedonistic Hiking guide(s)
- 6 nights’ accommodation at Palazzo Ravizza – a historic residence in the centre of Siena
- Dinners in a variety of excellent restaurants matched with some of the top wines of the region
- Hands-on cooking class with local chef
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
- Grandstand seats for the race
- Pre-race Contrada dinner in the streets of Siena
- Private visit to a Contrada museum
Walking/Terrain
Terrain: Three half-day hikes in rolling countryside outside the city. A lot of city walking
Shortest/Longest Day: 6km/3.8miles: 9km/5.7miles
We have graded this hike a Level 1. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at A Tuscan Harvest.
Accommodation
Palazzo Ravizza: A charming historic hotel in the heart of the city with fabulous views across the Sienese countryside
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
12th August
The tour starts in Pisa Centrale train station where we meet you at 1:30 pm. Drive 2 hours to Siena where we stay in the historical centre in Palazzo Ravizza, a charming hotel in the heart of the city with fabulous views across the Sienese countryside. This evening there is a short introductory talk about the Palio before we stroll into the Campo, the beautiful central square, where we enjoy an aperitif before dinner in a local trattoria.
13th August
Today is the start of the “Quattro Giorni del Palio”. This morning a leisurely walking tour of the city will take in one of the Contrade museums before we converge in the Campo to see the horses being allocated to their Contrade. This important event is attended by many local Sienese and accompanied by much fanfare. Light lunch in Siena followed by free time to explore the city in the afternoon. Dinner in a local restaurant.
14th August
Today we drive out of Siena to explore Tuscany’s famous Chianti countryside, and we enjoy a picnic lunch al fresco and hike in the beautiful vineyards of the region. Later in the day we learn to prepare Tuscan specialities in a hands-on cooking class and dine on the fruits of our labour. We return to Siena after dinner.
15th August
This morning we visit the private art collection of the Monte di Paschi, the oldest bank in the world, before heading out of the city for a guided walk in the shady hills of the Montagnola. Picnic in the open countryside. We return to Siena in the afternoon and watch the penultimate trial race before joining with the Contradaioli from one of the city Contrade for a pre-race dinner in the streets of the city.
16th August
An early start for those that wish to see the Bishop of Siena leading Mass in the chapel on the Piazza del Campo. A guided walk through the streets enables you to absorb the excitement of the day. In the afternoon we attend the blessing of the horse at one of the Contrada chapels before the procession sets off from the Duomo. We take our seats on the square to enjoy the medieval parade followed by the race itself. We dine in the square after the race and enjoy the continuation of the festivities.
17th August
Enjoy a relaxed start to the day as the city recovers from the festivities of the Palio. Today a guided hike explores the beautiful area of the Merse River, one of the most pristine areas in the region. Opportunities to cool off in the clear waters before a leisurely picnic in the countryside. Time for some last-minute shopping in Siena later in the afternoon before a magnificent final dinner in a renowned restaurant.
18th August
Return to Pisa Train Station for 11:00 am.
