The debut of Villa Borghese as a venue for equestrian competitions dates back to 1922, but the official numbering of the CSIO began with its inclusion in the FEI international calendar in 1926.

After two editions hosted at the Villa Glori Hippodrome (1926 and 1927) and a third at the Parioli Hippodrome (1928), this showjumping competition returned permanently to Piazza di Siena in 1929; and, year after year, edition after edition, it has created a special link between the top-level equestrian sport and the wonderful park nestled in the centre of the Eternal City.

The Rome CSIO was discontinued only from 1941 to 1946, during the Second World War, in 1960 when it was held in Turin to make way for the individual competition of the Olympic Games in Rome, in 1998 for the World Equestrian Games staged in Rome but at the Flaminio Stadium in October, and exceptionally in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead, two editions were held in 2000 (number 67 and number 68), the first for the traditional spring CSIO and the second in October, with a special edition for the final of the FEI Nations Cup circuit.

Piazza di Siena in 1922 - Ph. Equi-Equipe Archive