The Palio di Sienna

Today is the Palio day. What's the Palio?
The Palio of Siena with its exciting horse race is one of the most popular and well-known historic festivals in Italy. The contest to win the palio of Siena is a horse race run in Siena's fan-shaped main square, Piazza del Campo or Il Campo.
Siena is divided into 17 neighborhoods, or contrade, each with a rider. Ten contrade take part in the first race, July 2, chosen by a draw 20 days before the race. The other seven plus three from the July race compete August 16. Horses are assigned to the riders by a draw three days before the race.
Originally, there were about fifty-nine "Contrade"; now only seventeen remain, ten of which take part in the historical pageant and in the race at each Palio (seven by right and three drawn by lots).
The 17 Contrade are: Eagle, Snail, Wave, Panther, Forest, Tortoise, Owl, Unicorn, Shell, Tower, Ram, Caterpillar, Dragon, Giraffe, Porcupine, She-Wolf, Goose.
Each Contrada has its own unique emblem and colors and represents an area of the city. As one walks through the streets of Siena it is easy to know in which Contrada you currently are in by observing the flags and emblems displayed along the street. Much like street signs, corners often designate the entrance into a different Contrada with signs as the ones in the picture below.
The Palio horse race takes place twice a year, one the 2nd of July (Palio of Provenzano, in honor of the Madonna of Provenzano) and on August 16th (Palio of the Assumption, in honor of the Virgin Mary's Assumption).
During this special occasion, the main square in Siena, the Piazza del Campo, is prepared for the race as the ring around the square is covered with tuff clay.
 Places where to stay:
All accommodation and hotels will be filled for months if not years before hand. To be in Siena during June and August, when the races are run, is expensive and needs to be prebooked. Try to reserve your rooms at least one year before hand, if you wish to stay in Siena during the summer months. All of the central buildings are full to capacity with people hanging out of the windows.So, this is also a good reason to stay in Florence throughout the days of the Palio, in order to have a less crowded situation, but being very close to Sienna as well.
 Hotel Mario's is glad to give availabilities for these days. We are close to the central staion of Florence, Santa Maria Novella, very close to the Sita bus station  where you could easily catch a bus to Siena every hour.
Hotel Mario's is a friendly and small hotel in the centre of the city of Florence.
You can contact us for booking a room:
www.hotelmarios.com
info@hotelmarios.com
Via Faenza 89,
50123
Florence(Tuscany)
Italy

Pitti Immagine Uomo, soon in Florence

Pitti Uomo will take place again here in Florence from 14th to 17th of June 2011 at the Fortezza Da Basso. The atmosphere, during that days, is amazing and we invite everybody to come in that period, if you like fashion,people,beautiful women and international atmosphere.
 As every year, here at Hotel Mario's, we are fully booked, but try to contact us as well. We are keen to let the people know how friendly and nice is the stay at Hotel Mario's.
 We are only few metres far from the Fortezza da Basso, where Pitti Immagine Uomo is.

Hotel Mario's,
via Faenza 89,
50123
Florence
(Tuscany), Italy
www.hotelmarios.com
info@hotelmarios.com

Muv in Florence, are you ready? Villa Strozzi,Florence

MUV is an event that explores a world of languages that intersect that will take place at the Limonaia of Villa Strozzi from 1st of June to 5th of June 2011, in Florence: digital arts and electronic music. The festival, now in its sixth edition, is edited by the cultural organization events and MUV Intooitiv. The event is characterized by a multitude of disciplines: electronic music concerts, DJ sets, video performance, multimedia and interactive installations, video contest, international workshops, meetings, video review and production. Video images and music, in continuous interaction, contribute to originate a dynamic and interactive entertainment with strong involvement of the public. Besides socio-cultural aspect of music, live performance is therefore of the testimony of actual contamination of the music with the different art forms.

http://www.firenzemuv.com/2010/muv.php


Hotel Mario's, a small hotel in the heart of Florence, close to the station Santa Maria Novella and to all the bus station, has the pleasure to welcome all the people who will come to this great event in Florence. Hotel Mario's look forward to host young people and music fans also for this period of early June 2011.

Hotel Mario's
via Faenza 89
50123
Florence
Italy

Contact:
info@hotelmarios.com
tel +39-055-216801 
fax+39-055212039