The famous Siena horserace which has been going on for hundreds of years where 10 of 17 contras race for the title. The Piazza del Campo which is the city centre square turns into a race track.
Amazing atmosphere as the groups of different contras tried to out compete each other with their songs and chants. There arent really any rules and horses can finish without their jockeys.
It was a pretty knarly race. In the heats one of the horses broke its leg and died.
The final was very intense. Hours of waiting with parades and then in 2 minutes its all over. On the second corner one of the jockeys fell off his horse. On the third corner another horse flipped over and the jockey went flying. First was the goose contra which we were going for, the second horse that came through didnt even have a jockey on it.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0__4wOoT-4 for the race that was played a thousand times on repeat here in Italy.
The seven jockeys and horses wait at the start and try get into order so the gun can go off in the trials
Everyone getting waiting nervously for the start
EAch part of the city was lined with its contras corresponding flags and lights
El Campo lined with mud to form the race track
A precession of knights who did a battle run around El Campo as part of the opening for the finals
The rabbits like each contra went around waving their flags and marched in their tradition dress with their knights. We saw some talented flag bearers throwing flags in the air and whirling them around
A knight in the parade
It got pretty tight before the finals with hundreds of people pouring into the centre of El Campo
All the flag bearers lined up ready for the race start. The flag bearer second from the right wsnt allowed to wave his flag because of the death of their contras horse yesterday
A completely packed out crowd
No comments:
Post a Comment