A bareback horse race run twice every summer along the ancient streets of Siena and dating back to the 17th century will be targeted by animal rights activists this weekend, after Italian authorities allowed campaigners to protest during the event.
The Palio di Siena pits 10 jockeys picked from 17 rival neighbourhoods against each other, riding around the city’s Piazza del Campo in their districts’ bright colours, cheered on by more than 30,000 spectators. To have a chance of winning – and becoming a local hero – competitors must master the notorious San Martino curve, which throws many riders from their horses.
Activists argue the Palio is a cruel medieval event in which horses suffer greatly. Seven horses have died on the course since 2000, with the latest put down in June after crashing during a practice run. This Sunday, about 2,000 people are expected to attend a rally during the race organised by the European Animal Rights party, which aims to consign the Palio to the history books.
Breakthrough
Stefano Fuccelli, the group’s president, said the rally represented the first breakthrough in their campaign against the horse race, “I don’t know whether we’ll see the end of the Palio, but it’s a start.”
Mr Fuccelli promised not to interrupt the race itself and said activists would stay within the protest area mapped out by city hall. The authorities have cautiously marked out an area far from the city centre, but Mr Fuccelli said activists would nonetheless have a significant impact.
“It’s seen as dangerous by the political forces because they think it sets a precedent. It’s like the campaign to give women the vote, or for the rights of gays: they always started with a few people. It’s this that they’re afraid of,” he said.
But Paolo Mazzini, the councillor responsible for the Palio, remained confident about the future of the famous race.
“The Palio is one of the oldest community traditions in the world . . . it even took place during the invasion of Napoleon,” he said.
Mr Mazzini, whose great- grandfather won 10 Palios, stood by the decision to move protesters away from the event as a matter of public order.
“There are very strong emotions during the Palio,” he said, hinting at fears of clashes between locals and protesters.
"It's a constitutional right [to protest], but Siena is a city which existed before the constitution," Mr Mazzini added – (Guardian service)