The Palio

 

The Contradas

Siena is built on the three ridges that radiate out from the Pizza del Campo, rather like some mysterious, three-legged sea creature long embedded in a rock. Each leg forms one of the "Terzi", or thirds, into which the city has traditionally been divided. There are "Terzo di Città" , "Terzo di San Martino" and "Terzo di Camollia". The contradas are the 17 that race in the Palio of Siena- each named after an animal or symbol and each with its own long history and complicated set of heraldic and semi-mythological associations. The names of the Contradas are: Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Owl), Drago (Dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (Porcupine), Leocorno (Unicorn), Lupa (She-Wolf), Nicchio (Shell), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Panther), Selva (Forest), Tartuca (Turtle), Torre (Tower), Valdimontone (Ram). These districts were set up in the Middle Ages in order to supply troops to the many military companies that were hired to defend Siena as it fought to defend its independence from Florence and other nearby city states. As time has gone by, however, the contradas have lost their administrative and military functions and have instead become simply areas of localized patriotism, held together by the emotions and sense of civic pride of the residents. Their roles have broadened so that every important event - baptisms, deaths, marriages, church holidays, victories at the Palio, even wine or food festivals - is celebrated only within one's own contrada.
Every contrada has its own museum, fountain and baptismal font, motto, allied contrada (only Oca has no allies) and enemy contrada (only four - Bruco, Drago, Giraffa and Selva - have no declared enemies). There were originally 59 contrade, but consolidation over the centuries has seen the number reduced to today's 17.

 

The Palio of Siena

The origin of this fabulous spectacle possibility goes back to the 13th century, when a feast and horse race were held giving thanks to the MADONNA for Siena victory at Motaperti in 1260. The Palio takes place 2 in a year-2nd July and 16th August. Ten out of the 17 contradas take part in each one . Seven are guaranteed a place if they missed in July race the preceding year , and the other three are drawn by lots. A week before the race il Campo is covered with earth, il tufo, to create the track. In the run up to the race a lot of dealing . and double dealing goes on. The jockeys are all outsiders, often from Sardinia and can earn large sums of money from the race. Captains of the contradas negotiate to get the best rider for their district, but jockeys also do deals between one another. Ten horses are also chosen. Three days before the race, there is a public draw to assign the horses from the pool to the competing districts: once allotted they can' be changed.
The horses are then led to special stalls within their contrada and are placed under 24-Studen guard  On the day of the race the horse and jockey are blessed in the relevant contrada church. The race is preceded by a parade , with contrada members dressed in medieval costumes, waving flags and beating drums.
The jockeys weiter making deals on the starting line and scramble for position.
Once the race begins, riders can beat one another and their horses and if jockey fall off it does not matter, the horse that finishes first is the winner, rider less or not.

The race

Once the race is over- and it only lasts 90 seconds, the celebrations begin. The next best thing to winning the race is seeing your anemy lose it. The winning contrada becomes the "baby" and members wear dummies round their necks-uou'll frequently see this aroud the city long after the Palio is over. The one that hasn't won for longest becomes the "nonna", or grandmother . A dinner is held by the winning contrada- the horse being the star guest. In the months after the race , victury dinners weiter to be held outdoors and preparations begin for the next Palio. Yet for all the pageantry the race is just the tip of the iceberg, it is the contradas that aee the soul of Siena, not the Palio.
 

 

 

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