July 2nd, 2019 - Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy - In just a matter of seconds a dream was turned into reality for the red and white "Contrada della Giraffa".
A much hard-earned triumph had finally arrived. In a pulsating finish, the Piazza del Campo was tinted in white and red, the colours of the Contrada della Giraffa. Jockey Giovanni Atzeni detto "Tittia" was the man who performed gallantly on his triumphant 7-year-old horse "Tale e Quale" and land the first-ever triumph for the winning duo in their second attempt at the Palio.
"Tale e Quale" was declard the king of the Piazza del Campo as fellow "contradaioli" from the via delle Vergini acclaimed the winning jockey and horse with passionate hugs, all coming from faces drained in tears of joy!
A pulsating finish which went to the wire in the final metres. Yet again the exhilarating moments that only the Palio can offer surfaced yet again.
It was game on from the moment the "contrade" under the orders of "mossiere" Bartolo Ambrossione were alligned on the inside of the two "canapi": Aquila, Chiocciola, Pantera, Torre, Onda, Giraffa, Selva, Drago e Civetta.
Chiocciola soon went into a "head-to-head" duel with La Giraffa. The two "contrade" went into the first curve, that of San Martino and the three rounds that followed still battling for head position. Chiocciola slightly held the edge over La Giraffa until the last curve, when jockey Tittia and his "Tale e Quale" horse put into motion their winning move.
The red and white winning team managed to get in-front and hold their position surprising Chiocciola to win the Palio with a handful of centimetres!
A "Finale" which left the usual numerous spectators present at the Piazza del Campo breathless after witnessing an unprecedented "head-to-head" finish. 36th Palio for the Contrada della Giraffa, and sixth Palio won by jockey "Tittia" Giovanni Atzeni.
We spoke with freelance UK based photographer Simon King who covered his second consecutive Palio and whose captures are featured with this story.
"Second time covering the Palio. This Palio surpassed my expectations, having spent time with the Contrada dell' Drago, who all welcomed me as a friend and gave me unparalleled access which enabled me to gain a better understanding of this unique event, and moreover experience the passion in a new dimension. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Fabrizio Gabrielli and the Contrada dell' Drago for their warm welcome. As regards the Palio itself, well it reserved emotions which are very difficult to express in words!"
This is why it is Italy's most famous annual sporting and probably cultural event. Siena's Palio is all about pageantry, civic identity and Sienese pride all depicted via a bareback horse race that lasts, on average, just about 75 seconds.
The Palio is held in honour of the Virgin Mary, and the race takes place twice a year, on July 2 and August 16.
Then of the city's seventeen "contrade" (districts), are represented by a horse and a jockey in each race. The seven districts that did not participate in the previous July or August event compete by right, and are joined by horses from three lucky "repeat" contrade, drawn by lot.