Palio "Montone" Ram Plates

The oldest document recording the Palio and the oldest documentations of the Contrade date back to the thirteenth century: Contrada originally meant " a main inhabited street", then "neighbourhood" and finally the association of a district's inhabitants.

The Palio is run twice a year (the 2nd of July and the 16th of August) by 17 contrade: Aquila, bruco, chiocciola, civetta, drago, giraffa, istrice, leocorno, lupa, montone, nicchio, oca, onda, pantera, selva, tartufa, torre.

Montone is situated in the south-east of Siena near Porta Romana. Traditionally, its residents were tailors. Montone's symbol is a crowned rampant ram, with a blue shield emblazoned with the letter "u" for Umberto. Its colours are red and yellow, with white trim.