There is dirt in the Square: it’s raining. This is nothing new, almost as if the tuff were attracting the clouds over the historic centre. The mid-afternoon storm, which fortunately lasted about ten minutes, a little more, did not seem last night to have taken away a significant layer of the approximately 350 cubic meters of earth laid starting at 3am by approximately 40 municipal workers coordinated by technicians. The morning sun had made people think that the threat of rain had passed. Then the surprise. The ring was surrounded by red and white tape to prevent people from passing through. Not even the wooden walkways have been installed. No tables, obviously, in the clubs. Conchiglia inaccessible while the controversy broke out on social media: “Why not wait to hang it out since the forecast was for rain?” In reality the Palio has its own timetable. The tuff had to be placed last night to let it rest and try to allow the tests at dawn on the 27th and 28th. Which as of yesterday evening remained confirmed, barring rainfall (but the sun should shine from Thursday) or surprises when the Municipality workers check the health of the fund. Meanwhile, today the list of horses promoted after the Ceppo will be known: at 11 captains in the Municipality. They will be able to indicate, as per the regulations, if there are half-breeds that there is no need to move forward. An advisory power, veterinarians may or may not endorse the request. But we will need to be careful about cutting too much because, if the list holds surprises, the strategies will start moving again. In the afternoon the rehearsal batteries will arrive at dawn and, at 7pm, Giovanni Gasparro’s Palio will be presented, Lara Androvandi’s Masgalano and the prize for the best standard bearers of 2 July, offered by Lupa and created by the goldsmith Renzo Bianciardi and Cosetta Francini.
La.Valde.
