The Nicchio (Sea-Shell) Contrada broke a 28-year hoodoo to win Siena's Palio Tuesday night, the iconic medieval bareback horse race around the Tuscan city's central square.
    The Palio, meaning "banner", dating back to the 13th century, is one of Italy's most colourful tourist attractions although many newcomers to the event are shocked at how violent it can be and how much deep-rooted intra-urban enmity it arouses, as well as at the shameless haggling and negotiating that happens between jockeys as the race gears to spring into life.
    Siena's trademark race, which formed the backdrop to the opening chase sequence of the 2007 James Bond film Quantum of Solace, takes place each year on July 2 and August 16, the day after the 'Ferragosto' Feast of the Assumption of Mary, although some years have an extra one at the beginning of September.
    Jockeys from ten of Siena's 17 'contrade' or neighbourhoods compete for the silk prize in the one and a half minute hurtle around the Piazza del Campo.
    The only rule in the competition is that the jockeys, or fantini, mustn't grab the reins of their adversaries.

That means whipping a rival's horse or even knocking a jockey off his steed is allowed.
    Victory goes to the first horse to complete three laps of the square, even if it arrives at the finishing post without a rider,or 'scosso'.
    The chaotic and thrilling event attracts thousands of visitors each year who are mostly oblivious to the punishment thehorses take.
    But animal rights activists have long campaigned to get the event banned, saying it is cruel, has little to do with sporting skill and is dangerous for the horses, jockeys and spectators.
    More than 50 horses have died on the course since 1970.
    The Ferragosto Palio this August was postponed twice due to heavy rain that had soaked the Campo's tuff track, making it too treacherous for the horses to race.
    In the end veteran jockey Giovanni Atzeni aka Tittia prevailed on the bay mare Anda e Bola, before falling off and suffering concussion just after the finishing line.
    It was his 13th victory and the 43rd for Nicchio, which last won on August 16, 1998.
    Atzeni's tally of 13 matches Trecciolino and move him within one point of Aceto's 14, the most successful jockey of the modern era.
    It was a second victory for Tittia's ride Anda e Bola, who hadn't won since August 16, 2025, for Valdimontone, the rival contrada of Nicchio, when it was ridden by Giuseppe Zedde, known as Gingillo.
    Nicchio's victory was a resounding one, having started and finished first without any other contrada threatening Tittia in the slightest during the three laps.

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