All the citizens follow the colourful historical parade, that is held immediately before the race, with great trepidation. At the end of the passeggiata, the order of entrance inside the "canapi" is communicated. This way, the Sienese will know the starting order and the position of their horses, whether they are inside the "canapi" or they are the ones who will take a run-up later on. This is when most of the race is decided. The "passeggiata storica" is preceded by a series of preliminary operations made by each Contrada, from the Mass at eight in the morning, joined by the jockeys and the Capitani, to the "vestitura" of the young people who will have to accompany the parade, until the blessing of the horses inside the church of the Contrada.

At three in the afternoon, the "campanone" of the Torre del Mangia announces the gathering of the parade inside the courtyard of the Podestà, from where it will depart to enter the Piazza del Campo at 17.20 (in July) or at 16.50 (in August).
Six drum majors open the parade followed by the Vessillifero on a horse carrying the emblem of Siena called the "Balzana".
The drummers beat the rhythm of the parade that is followed by the showing of the emblems of the cities and the castles belonging to the ancient Sienese territories.
Various figures slowly walk by and they are all preceded by the Vessilliferi, until the arrival of the "Magistrati della Mercanzia". This is when the emblems of the Contrade enter the square. Later, the Paggio appears carrying the "Masgalano", the prize that each year is given to the Contrada that was best represented by standard-bearers, drummers and figurants in the two "Palii".
At this point, the Contrade begin their competition in the range established by the draw. A jockey with a parade outfit rides a big parade horse called "Soprallasso" followed by a groom, while the Barbaresco leads the most acclaimed racehorse by its contradaioli. Later, the Contrade that do not participate to the race and the six riders representing the suppressed ones enter.
The parade ends wiht the Carroccio, protected by armed foot soldiers and by six riders representing the Sienese noble families. The Carroccio carries the much coveted Palio.
Then the starting signal is given for the Alfieri's "sbandierata", from which the "contradaioli" try to sense the signs and the omens of how the race will develop. The burst of the firecracker announces the arrival of the riders who,this time, wear the race outfit on.
They mount their horses without saddle and each of them takes one "nerbo" to spur their horses or to hinder an adversary. The floor is left to the "mossiere", namely the one who announces the order of entrance inside the "canapi", which is kept secret until then.