Il Palio

The Palio is the oldest horse race in the world and happens right in the main piazza of Siena two times a year. The different contrade or "neighborhoods" compete for bragging rights and a tapestry which they hang in their church.  A Sienese's life practically revolves around this event that happens two times a year in July and August. Its a huge deal.  Like really huge: I have seen grown men cry and massive fist fights over this thing. I could go on and on about the contrade and more about the Palio, but instead I'll leave you this link.

There were so many people, we had to arrive over three hours in advance to secure a standing spot in the middle of the piazza (a seat on the bleachers starts at 400 euro!).  All for a race that was less than two minutes long.  But it was a blast and worth the wait, but next time I'd prefer to watch from one of the balconies.

The assignment of the horses to each contrada a few days prior:

The contrada flags on the Palazzo Pubblico

Bambini with their fazzoletti:

Sienese men discussing at one of the trials:

The horses were beautiful:

Waiting for it all to start:

The coveted Palio (tapestry):

Just a few people in the piazza:

Arezzo

So turns out I'm a terrible blogger.  But I visited way too many beautiful places that I didn't want to leave out, so I though I'd post a few more photos of my last month in Italy...

On a Saturday I took a day-trip to Arezzo, where Life is Beautiful was filmed and close to where the actor/director Roberto Benigni (I love him) was born.  It was a pretty little town and made me want to watch the movie again (even though me and Liz stayed up way too late one night watching it only a week before).

Roman Amphitheater:

View of Toscana:

A wedding in  the chapel of the cathedral:

Piazza Grande.  Recognize it?

Perugia

Last weekend Ashley, Katherine, Liz and I went to Perugia.  The first thing we did was visit the Perugina chocolate factory--the company that makes the "Bacio" chocolate.  This first photo is us in front of the model of the biggest chocolate in the world: a huge giant Bacio.

Of course we also got to sample a lot of chocolate and see how they are made...

After touring the factory we headed to the grocery store and bought a nice cold bottle of milk before heading back to the city center.  Paolo, friend of a Margaret's who is studying at the university there, met us there and showed us the city and the nightlife.  We ate pizza at a nice restaurant and met up with Paolo's friends and spent the night walking around the city.  It was a blast.

Italian ragazzacci:

Siena by night

Cinque Terre!

Culinary adventures at Pian del Lago

Nonna feeds us really well.  Most of the food we eat for dinner comes from her garden, fresh and organic.  These are a few of my favorite dishes:

Hard-bolied eggs with salsa verde, which is kind of like a milder pesto

Rice with vegetables

Macedonia or fruit salad - our dessert most nights

Breakfast.  Nonna puts our cereal in glass jars.  These Miel Pops taste like Honey Nut Cheerios, but are 10 times better.  I will miss them.

Spaghetti al pesto

Stuffed zucchini with tomato

Chicken with lemon and sage

Honey from our backyard--Nonna and her family are beekeepers

My birthday cake, made by Liz and Margaret