The Palio is not the only event held in Siena.

Numerous events take place in the course of the year, beginning with the feasts dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Lucy.

Saint Catherine of Siena is the patron saint of Italy and one of the patron saints of Europe. On April 29th, the celebrations begin in the morning in the house where the Saint was born, in the contrada of Oca, which has now been transformed into a real sanctuary, and terminate in the afternoon in Piazza del Campo.

Saint Lucy is the patron saint of the town of the Palio and is celebrated on December 13th with a religious ceremony and a street market where people can buy the so-called "campanine": small terracotta bells decorated with the colours of the contrade. In the past they were tied around the neck of the children, who made them ring as they played.

On September 8th takes place the Festa dei Tabernacoli (feast of the tabernacles), during which the children decorate the tabernacle of their district.

Well worth to mention are also some "mundane" events, such as the Settimana dei Vini or Wine Week - a cornerstone of Italian wine culture with over forty years of history - and the Settimana Nazionale dell`Olio (National Olive Oil Week) - dedicated to Italy`s green gold.

If you have decided to rent a villa in Tuscany , possibly a farmhouse in the outskirts of Siena , you cannot miss the many feasts and festivals held in the province of Siena and dedicated to honey, truffle, pecorino cheese, pici and so on.