11K views | We’ll enjoy a front-row seat at Siena’s wild Palio horse race, marvel at treasures from the city’s golden age, then head out of town for a taste of Tuscan "dolce vita." | Rick Steves' Europe | Facebook

At Siena's Palio horse race, bleacher and balcony seats are expensive, but it’s free to join the masses in the square. And those who are really well-connected get to watch from the comfort of an apartment window. Roberto’s friend, Franco, shared his apartment overlooking the race course...and we’re enjoying the best seats in town. From this vantage point, we watch as the square fills, lots of pageantry unfolds as each neighborhood does its flag-waving thing, and race time approaches. The ritual