Piazza Del Campo

The Piazzo del Campo is the central square of Siena.

The square is built in the shape of a shell . On the straight part of the square you will find the Palazzo Pubblico with the Torre del Mangia . Around it in a large arc are several restaurants and shops. In the middle of the square is the Fonte Gaia.

The Palio delle Contrade is held twice a year on the square. These horse races are the highlight of the year in Siena. It is a battle between the seventeen different districts of the city. The race lasts only 3 laps in total and between 70 and 90 seconds . But the preceding rituals and training take a week.

During this huge event , Piazza del Campo is completely filled with locals and tourists cheering on their favorite neighborhood. The rest of the year, the square is the place to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat with a great view of the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia.

Be sure to check out the short video about the races attached here!

Willem Vandenameele