Siena’s Palio is world famous. A bareback horesrace around the Campo, the city’s main piazza.
Ever since Renaissance times, when the city temporarily reduced taxes for the winning neighborhood, it’s been a no-holds-barred, bare-knuckled showdown that attracts thousands.
Pienza’s version of the palio is a bit more sedate. Called the “Gioco Di Cacio,” the six contrada (neighborhoods) compete in a sort of horseshoes match…rolling a wheel of pecorino cheese across a bumpy piazza to see who can get closest to the pin.
This year’s was the 70th edition of the “Rolling of the Cheese,” and five neighborhoods were psyched to unseat San Piero, the reigning champion.
The neighborhoods take this seriously. Contrata flags fly from most houses in every neighborhood.
Our neighborhood, La Mura, held a slim 8-point lead going into the final round.
That final roll was crucial. The round of cheese bumped and tolled toward the pin…
…and finally tottered over in the two point zone, sealing victory
Those final points sealed the victory, and our team erupted in a burst of flag-waving cheers.
The winners’ prize…a selection of pecorino cheese, of course.
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