Il Palio Di Siena

Il Palio Di Siena recreates the drama of the famous horse race contested annually since the 17th century by bareback jockeys representing Siena's rival contrade (districts). The goal of the game is to maneuver your horse through the hazards posed by the race track and other riders to reach the finish line first. Winning the Palio requires a combination of timing, risk-taking, and luck.

Players representing horses from ten of Siena's 17 contrade run three laps of the track around Siena's Piazza del Campo. The game board has 12 squares, two of which are dangerous curves where riders risk falls that would force them to abandon the race. Each turn, players send their horses forward one, two, or three squares — but movement is restricted for some squares, reflecting the close quarters of the actual race course. When a horse lands on a square with other horses, a dice roll determines whether the moving horse gains a bonus movement equal to the number of horses on that square, or whether the horse's rider is thrown. Riderless horses continue to race, but with significantly reduced chances for winning.

Pieces representing Siena's historic contrade — including Bruco (the caterpillar), Civetta (the little owl), and Liocorno (the unicorn) — add color to the game.