VIEW OF LARGE DINNER IN CONTRADA OF GIRAFFA THE NIGHT BEFORE PALIO IN SIENA, 2003-08-15 (photo)

A view of the large dinner in the contrada of Giraffa the night before the Siena's famous Palio horse race August 15, 2003. Twice each year, 10 of the city's 17 districts, known as 'contrade', race three times around Siena's central square to win the Palio, a cloth depicting the Madonna. During the three days before there are six trials, which take place every morning and every evening. At the end of the fifth trial, called 'the general trial', the people of the ten contrade and their guests gather together in the heart of each contrada, where they have a large dinner to celebrate the outcome of the race. The horse race traces its roots to the 12th century. REUTERS/Tony Gentile PP03080052 TG