Hotels near racecourses in Italy

Italy is a nation with a strong horse racing tradition that dates back to the Roman Era. Although flat horse racing is extremely popular, this type of racing is often eclipsed by the world-famous Palio di Siena, the most famous horse race in Italy. The Palio di Siena, also known as II Palio, is a traditional event that dates back to medieval times.

Each year riders representing the city's ten districts race bareback around the main square of the Siena's city centre, the Piazza del Campo, on a thick layer of dirt. The races are short, fast and treacherous, with each event seeing thousands of tourists and race enthusiasts flock to Siena to catch a glimpse of the action. The horse race is held twice each year, first on July 2 and again on August 16. Travel to the event is fairly straightforward as Siena can be easily reached by bus from Florence and Rome or train from Pisa and Florence.

Prestigious Italian flat horse racing events, such as the Premio Presidente della Repubblica and Gran Premio di Milano, are held annually at the Capannelle and San Siro racecourses. There are also popular racecourses in Naples, Florence, Pisa, Livorno and Varese. Italy's main international airports are located in Rome and Milan. A well-integrated national transport system means that racing fans will face little difficulty in travelling around Italy.