Palio site logo

Preparing the track

The earthen race track, made of a special mixture called tufa, is laid out around the edge of Piazza Il Campo before the trial races start, so it’s in place all week. The entire piazza is open to the public between races, including the track. The heavy foot traffic disturbs the track surface, so track crews must restore the surface before each race to give the horses a consistent, safe course.

After the final race, crews remove the tufa, the track fence, the mattress safety cushions at San Martino, and the bleachers, transforming Piazza Il Campo from a race track back to a classic Italian piazza.

 

Next: Horses and jockeys

Back to top