The Palio is not an event revived for the tourist industry, it is the fulcrum of the life of the city. Every good Siena inhabitant remembers all of the jockeys, captains and horses that ever competed. The first Palio was held in 1644 and since then this event has continued uninterrupted. In Siena, two things have remained unchanged since the seventeenth century: the controversial rules, and the hatred among the seventeen contrade (quarters) during the days of the Palio. But the beauty of the city is not confined solely to this event. The Piazza del Campo is always packed with people, ever a source of fascination for its particular and unique seashell shape.