The banner, Palio, or as the Sienese call it, “the Rag,” because it is crumpled or crushed by the many hands grabbing it, are the various names used to refer to the rectangle of painted silk awarded to the contrada that wins the race. Two Palios are run each year, one dedicated to Our Lady of Provenzano and the other to Our Lady of the Assumption. The artists invited to paint this cherished object are usually Sienese for the July 2nd race, and internationally known for the one run on August 16. Even though they are essentially free to express themselves without restrictions, there are some strict rules the artists have to respect in terms of iconography: the presence of the Virgin Mary characterized by the attributes of one or the other Madonna, the coats of arms of the City of Siena and of the three Terzi, or main subdivisions of the city, and the symbols of the contradas participating in that Palio. This is because the banner is not only a work of art, but also an emblem with a high religious and civic value. A week before the race, the Rag is presented to the citizenry in the courtyard of the town hall, the Palazzo Pubblico, and it is immediately the object of great curiosity. Its lines and colors are examined for signs revealing the contrada that will win, and propitiatory gestures are made, such as waving one’s contrada scarf while the Banner makes its way around . . .