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Grab yourself a late deal >Palio at Grosseto, Tuscany
The palios - town and village competitions - of Tuscany form well-established tourist attractions for holiday makers throughout the summer season.
One of the oldest - dating back to the fifteenth century - is the Casteldelpiano at the town of Grosseto, a horse race that is held this year on September 6th-8th.
As with other such competitions in the region, competing teams are divided into 'contrade' (districts). No less unexpected is the religious procession that precedes the race, in Grosseto's case dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie. The horses are, of course, also blessed by the local priest.
Aside from the centrepiece race - held on the final evening of festivities at 8pm sharp - there is a colourful street parade, reflecting the deeply-held traditions of the event.
The word 'palio' refers to the silk banner traditionally awarded to the winner of these centuries-old town competitions.
Perhaps the most famous of these is the chaotic 90-second horse race held between the contrade of Siena, which attracts thousands of holiday makers each July.
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Views and opinions in this article are solely of the author and do not necessarily represent those of James Villa Holidays(JVH). JVH provides no assurances regarding the accuracy of the information and cannot accept liability for complaints, loss or damage resulting from the article. It does not form part of the contract made when a holiday is booked with JVH and the information provided is not intended to be a rider or replacement to the booking conditions. Reference to the service or product of a third party, is not an endorsement or recommendation and JVH accepts no liability as a result of complaints, loss or damage arising from their use.
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