The CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena celebrates 100 years of international sport in exactly the way one might imagine: by remaining, on the surface at least, exactly as it started.The Villa Borghese, a sprawling public garden just north of the city centre, has remained largely unchanged since the 17th century. The pet project of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, patron of Caravaggio, was modeled after the gardens of Antiquity, with extensive acreage studded with fountains, temples, and the flat-topped umbrella pines. Here, practically purpose-built, was the home of equestrian sports for the 1960 Olympics – one that allowed the International Olympic Committee to show la dolce vita to the world.Known as the Piazza di Siena, in 1922 the gardens played host to their inaugural showjumping competition. Exactly a century ago, the event received a coveted recognition from the then-fledgling International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), which elevated its status from Italian hotspot to global significance.From May 28–31, the competition hosts CSIO5* level showjumping classes. Scattered amongst the showjumping programme is high-goal polo, classical music concerts, and pony jumping classes, in which diminutive mounts worth six figures partner with young riders to tackle fences often bigger than they are. Over the course of the week, over €1 million will be distributed across the classes.Though all these offerings might seem like obvious signifiers of wealth, the Piazza di Siena remains surprisingly egalitarian. While enthusiasts of the sport might find themselves reluctantly stumping up ever-higher prices for entry at major shows around the world, the Piazza di Siena is free for all. It is an unsung boon for a sport looking to capture interest from a wider audience.Piazza di Siena. / RolexCurious spectators might wander up to the show from the Spanish Steps, curious about the fanfare and spectacle echoing out of the park. Or they might enter via the Viale Piero e Raimondo d’Inzeo, also referred to as the Master d’Inzeo.