Palio dei Ciuchi Asciano
SPORT E COSTUME
PHONE NUMBERS
Palio dei Ciuchi
Where: Centro Storico e Stadio Guglielmo Marconi di Asciano
When: Seconda domenica di Settembre
Time: Tutto il pomeriggio
After about a month of preparations, decorations, dinner, historical walk and skits, the crucial moment arrives, the fateful race in the glorious 'Guglielmo Marconi' stadium.
The competition takes place on the second Sunday of September and sees all seven districts at the start under the grandstands, the winner being the one who crosses the finish line after three laps (until 1999 there were two laps to complete).
Everything is regulated by precise rules which are often modified over the years. They were dictated by the Sports Club organizing the event, then with the advent of the Contrade association, the regulations were drawn up by this.
But returning to the race, this was born as a mockery of the Palio di Siena, its initial spirit must have been of a comical nature, the jockeys were the classic local characters such as 'Franchino di masherino' and 'Il Picino',
But like all competitions no one stands to lose, in fact over the years the discussion has become more and more serious, so heated rivalries and disputes have arisen and the donkey mounts are reserved for jockeys with some experience or at least with a good predisposition to ride.
Lately some districts have even mounted professional jockeys, who have won the competition even with lighter donkeys.
Therefore, given the difference that arose with other jockeys, the association inserted a clause which prohibited jockeys with any official racing experience from riding. Furthermore, the riding was reserved only for citizens of Asciano who had at least been resident in the Municipality for about a year.