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Updated: What is Italy’s Palio di Siena and where can you watch it?

Italy's hotly-anticipated Palio di Siena horse race is back - but what exactly is it and where can you watch it?

Published: 16 August 2024 12:10 CEST
Jockeys ride their horses in the iconic Palio di Siena race
Jockeys ride their horses in the iconic Palio di Siena race, held twice a year. Photo by Carlo BRESSAN / AFP

The renowned Palio di Siena horse race returns on Saturday, August 17th, with jockeys racing it out in Tuscany’s medieval jewel, Siena.

With origins dating back to 1633, the Palio di Siena is Italy’s most famous historic horse race.

The event is a competition between the neighbourhoods of Siena, called contrade, with each contrada having its own coat of arms and patron saints. There are 17 contrade in Siena, but only 10 compete – this year’s competitors are; Chiocciola, Oca, Istrice, Selva, Lupa, Valdimontone, Onda, Nicchio, Leocorno and Civetta.

It occurs twice a year in Siena’s main square, Piazza del Campo. The first race took place this summer on July 2nd. Each Palio lasts a total of four days; three days of celebrations and the final day being the race itself.

The race consists of three laps of Piazza del Campo. The starting point (the mossa), is made up of two ropes in which the 10 participating horses and jockeys must wait in order. The horse, with or without a jockey, which completes the three laps first wins.

The prize is a large silk-painted canvas, known as the drappellone, which is designed and created every year by a different artist.

Over the centuries, the race has only been cancelled a handful of times, including for World War II and the Covid pandemic. 

In recent years the Palio has been the subject of protest from animal rights groups who state that the horses suffer during the competition. Preliminary investigations into a defamation trial began at the start of June this year, after Walter Caporale, the national president of animal rights group Animalisti Italiani (Italian Animalists) was accused of defining the event’s organisers as “sadistic and uncivilised.” The next hearing is set for February 28th 2025. 

The final race this year was supposed to take place on Friday, 16th August but it was cancelled due to heavy rain.

Watch the Palio di Siena live on television or via streaming on Italian channel LA7 from 4.45pm on Saturday.

Are you tuning in to the Palio di Siena? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below.

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LIVING IN ITALY

How much should you pay for a ‘sworn translation’ in Italy?

There are several types of documents for which you might need a ‘traduzione asseverata’ in Italy, with costs varying depending on the language, length and complexity of the original text.

Published: 16 September 2024 14:57 CEST
How much should you pay for a 'sworn translation' in Italy?

Under Italian law, a sworn translation (traduzione asseverata or giurata) is an official procedure certifying the legal validity of a translation of a document holding judicial or administrative importance.

What sets sworn translations apart from other types of translation is that they are authenticated by a court official or notary following an oath in which the relevant translator vouches (and takes legal responsibility) for the accuracy and veracity of the translation. 

Sworn translations may be required when presenting legal documents such as notarial deeds, birth, death or marriage certificates, criminal or medical records and academic qualifications to official authorities (for instance, town hall officials, law enforcement authorities or immigration offices).

Unlike in other European countries, including Spain, sworn translations in Italy don’t necessarily require translators to be accredited by an official body. 

That said, authorities generally advise the public to refer exclusively to qualified professionals registered with the Technical Court Consultants Register (Albo dei Consulenti Tecnici di Ufficio, or CTU) or with the List of Experts and Professionals (Ruolo di Periti e Esperti) from the local Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio). 

A list of qualified translators for each provincial tribunal in Italy can be consulted here by selecting Albo CTU, the traduttori e interpreti category, the relevant tribunal and the language.

How much should I be paying?

There’s no simple answer to this question as costs depend on several factors, including the text’s original language, its length and complexity and the urgency of your request. 

Each translator is free to set their own rates, with most charging by page (though some may also charge per number of words).

The page rate in Italy generally ranges from €20 to €50 per page depending on the complexity of the text and the language of origin (translations from less common languages usually cost more due to a smaller pool of available translators).

If the translation is needed quickly (for instance, within one or two working days), you’ll likely be charged an additional fee. 

Once the translation is completed, the translator must appear in court (or in front of a notary) to take an oath in which he takes responsibility for the veracity of the translation. 

The process involves the application of a marca da bollo (revenue stamp) to the translation, which usually costs €16 for every four pages. 

The translator will include this sum in the total cost of their services. 

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How to get an Italian identity card

On average, the overall cost of a sworn translation from one of the main European languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese) to Italian ranges from €50 to €150 for short documents (less than four pages).

But costs can quickly go up to €300 or €400 for hefty files and dossiers.

How about ‘legalised’ translations?

Depending on the intended use of the document and its country of destination, a sworn translation may in some cases have to be ‘legalised’ (legalizzata) by Italian authorities (usually by Prefecture officials or the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Italy, or Italian consular authorities abroad).

A legalised translation is generally required when official documents (e.g., birth, marriage and death certificates, school diplomas and degrees, agreements, etc.) need to be used in legal, administrative, or government procedures in a country other than the country which issued them. 

In short, it certifies the status of the officials who signed the translation and the authenticity of their signatures, making the document valid in a foreign legal system.

For countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961, the legalisation process is simplified by an Apostille – a stamp that confirms the authenticity of the relevant document/s, allowing them to be valid without need for further legalisation.

The costs of both legalisation and Apostille procedures vary depending on the issuing authority.

READ ALSO: What is Italy’s marca da bollo and how do you get one?

Italy’s Prefecture offices require the payment of a €16 marca da bollo in both cases, though there are a variety of exemptions.

Share your own advice, experience or questions on the subject of getting a sworn translation in Italy in the comments section below.

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