Il Palio!!!

This morning the people of Torrita di Siena woke up very early, this because today was the important day of " Il palio ".

The little town got dressed up in beautiful medieval costumes of the Fifteenth Century .
The 8 different contradas , from the Torritese people, who from birth feel joined to their contrada where they were born, presented them self in church at 10, and after the mass and the blessing,in the main " Piaza " starts with drummers, trumpets and lots of exciting people the festivity of the flag.

The color full flags fly around like birds and the early spring sun, together with the atmosphere of exciting voices warm up the heart of the people.
Each contrada, with their own colors, coat of arms, and its own characters, which consists of a Lady, a Prince, il paggetto, an Ensign, flag-wavers, drummers show them self before starting the "corteio storico", historical walk true the narrow streets of Torrita di Siena.

With proud " la contrada Refenero " walks their white celestial flag with a lion and three ears.
On the picture you can see the " Dama" and her prince, behind there is Ludovica, proud and seriously playing her part.

I'm more or less taken by the beauty of the people today, dressing a medieval costume, how it change the impression of their being.
Nothing to do, I thought by myself...if you will dress up a Dutch man in this costumes it would be never the same...
The Latin, almost Roman prints of the face's of Italians, even today, makes that this parade brings you back in time, just as a portrait painted by some famous painter in the fifteen century.