Siena holds Palio on two dates each summer.

The historic Palio di Siena horse race returns on Tuesday 2 July, with bareback riders battling it out in the mediaeval heart of the Tuscan city.

The Palio dates back to the 17th century and is traditionally held on two dates - 2 July and 16 August - with the colourful spectacle attracting tens of thousands of spectators.

The event sees riders and horses race three laps around the central Piazza del Campo, in a fiercely-contested competition between 10 of the city's 17 rival contrade or neighbourhoods.

The contrade competing on 2 July are: Bruco, Civetta, Giraffa, Leocorno, Lupa, Nicchio, Pantera, Onda, Oca and Valdimontone.

Over the centuries the race has been cancelled only a handful of times: notably in 1855 due to a deadly outbreak of cholera, during world war two, and as a result of the covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

In recent years the Palio has been the subject of protest from animal rights activists who claim that horses endure suffering during the event.

The race on Tuesday evening will be screened on Italian television network La7, with live coverage from 17.15.

Cover photo: Migel / Shutterstock.com