Italy, Il Palio and icons.

My intents are two-fold. First, I'm going to advertise for Italy. Secondly I'm going to advertise for me. In the small Tuscan town of Siena, a horse race, Il Palio, occurs every July and August. It transpires in the small plazza at the center of the town. This area is dirt and cobblestone, surrounded by acient stone buildings, housing cathedrals, shops and restaurants. It's a beautiful location, and a popular destination during the summer months. This particular event gathers thousands of thousands of tourists to watch 10 horses race around a space smaller than the infield of a baseball diamond.
To the top right is a logo that I've created for the event. It is an Illustrator CS image. If that means nothing to you, don't worry, it's just a bunch of technical art nonsense. Feedback and opinions on all all artwork is appreciated.