Crowds gather in the Piazzo del Campo for Il Palio, one of Siena's celebrated horse races. This race, which is held two times a year in July and August, has been run in the plaza for over 400 years and features horses from the city's 17 contrade, or districts.

Text adapted from and photograph shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Siena: Italy's Very Own Magic Kingdom," September 2003, National Geographic Traveler magazine)