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The Palio 2026 banner tells the soul of Torrita

With the presentation of the banner, the Palio dei Somari 2026 truly comes to life, marking one of the most heartfelt moments for the community of Torrita as the race of March 22 approaches.

The artwork, created by the Sienese artist Cecilia Rigacci, is not simply the symbol of the race, but a story rich in meaning, weaving together faith, identity and tradition. At the center of the composition stands the reference to Saint Joseph and the donkey, a humble and tireless animal that has long accompanied human labor and which here becomes an image of silent strength, sacrifice and journey.

Also deeply meaningful is the reference to the art of woodworking, so closely tied to the culture of Torrita. At the bottom appears the plane, a symbol that recalls Saint Joseph’s craft but also the value of harmony: smoothing the roughness of wood becomes, symbolically, an invitation to smooth the rough edges of the human soul as well, in order to rediscover unity and balance.

The artist reinforces this message with the Latin expression cum cordis, meaning with the heart, an invitation to experience the Palio not only as a competition, but also as a moment of shared identity and togetherness. Completing the artwork are the references to the eight contrade, represented as a weave of light embracing the scene and linking it to the sky, to history and to the future of the Palio.

The banner thus becomes far more than a simple prize: it is the reflection of a community that recognizes itself in its roots and that, year after year, continues to renew the deepest meaning of its celebration.