Tens of thousands of revellers, many dressed in masks and period costume, packed into St Mark's Square for the "flight of the angel" on Sunday which marks the traditional opening of the Carnival of Venice.
On the twelfth chime of midday from St Mark's Campanile, fearless 19-year-old Irene Rizzi leapt from the famous bell tower, attached to a wire 80 metres above the huge crowd that had gathered for one of the world's most celebrated carnivals.
SEE ALSO: In pictures – Venice Carnival gets off to flying start
The carnival, which lasts until February 9th, is thought to have started in 1162 after a military victory. Abandoned for decades, it was resurrected in 1980.
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Photo: AFP
Italy's hotly-anticipated Palio di Siena horse race is back - but what exactly is it and where can you watch it?
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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