From where is the name
Siena derived?
The name Siena has a
probable Etruscan origin and would refer to the name of the SAINA family. This hypothesis
is not too risky since names of aristocrats often become names of towns (see: Tarchna -
TARQUINIA or Velzna - VOLSINII).
Regarding the Latin era, there are many sources passing down to us the name: SÆNA. It is
a name that during various Roman periods referred to some great figures, such as: the
consul Saenius Lucii Filius (32 B.C.), or the senator L. Saenius who was even mentioned by
Sallust. In addition it is necessary to remember that the great geographer Tolomeo attests
to the fact that the Greek name of the town was SAÌNA.
What are the origins of the Palio?
To use a cliché,
one could well say that the origins of the Palio have been lost in the mists of time.
In fact the practice of having competitions with horseys and jockeys can be traced all the
way back to the Etruscan period, given the discovery at the archeological site of Murlo
(very close to Siena) of a brick tile decorated with a bas-relief depicting three horses,
mounted bareback by jockeys wearing protective helmets and carrying whips. It is likely
that races of this kind were fairly common in ancient times, but it is very clear that
this discovery attests to the actual practice around Siena. However, to find a form of
Palio more similar to the current one, we go back to 1310 when, by will of the City Hall
(as is clear from the Statues) and in the honour of the Virgin Mary, it was established to
"buy and run the Palio... as is practiced in the town of Siena... on the feast
day of Saint Ambrogio".
Siena however was a town of many celebrations and tournaments, like for example the game
of the Elmora (around the middle of 13th century) which was extremely violent and
was fought by people armed with clubs, boards and stones. It was substituted, so it seems,
in 1291 by the game of the Pugna which saw young Sienese men, divided into two or
three parts (corresponding to the Terzi, the three geographical divisions of
Siena) battling each other with fists covered by crates. Before we get to the Palio as we
now know it, we must first pass through other types of horse competitions: the Corsa
alla Lunga (the linear race) and the Corsa alla Tonda (the round race).
Other games also took place in the Piazza del Campo, such as the Pallonata (a big
ball was thrown down from the Mangia Tower and was kicked around indisciplinately by two
opposing factions), the Bufalata or Lidia (buffalo races) and the Cacce
(hunts).
This brings us to the official date of the beginning of the Palio as we know it today:
1656. The only changes made to the Palio made since then have been territorial
and procedural even if, until the second half of 19th century, linear races still
continued irregularly to take place.
How many Contradas did exist in origin?
The most accredite
hypothesis (even if not the definitive one) is that the actual Contradas derive directly
from the ancient Military Companies the town was subdivided into for the organization of
the militia. Their number therefore have had several fluctuations during the centuries of
existence of the Republic of Siena, consequently to the demografic increases of some areas
(which made necessary the creation of new Military Companies) or population decreases.
Actal 17 Contradas are subdivided into 42 Military Companies, a number enacted (at last
with just a demografic meaning, rather than military) in the first half of 18th century.
The Contradas rise exactly from the aggregation of two or more Military Companies with the
purpose to participate to the feasts in the Campo of Siena; each one entered in the Piazza
accompanied by an allegorical machine with the decoration of a panther, of a giraffe, of a
porcupine etc... so that one begins to talk therefore about the Contrada of the Panther,
the Giraffe, the Porcupine...
Who fixed the boundaries of the actual
Contradas? And how?
The actual
boundaries have been fixed by a specifical proclamation in 1730 (or 1729 according to the
ancient calendar which made the year begin on March 25) by the Governor of Siena Violante
Beatrice di Baviera.
This proclamation aimed to clear up some boundary diatribes, essentially to settle the
right of a Contrada to make the begging (collecting the money to finance the participation
to the feast in the Piazza) in one street rather than in another. It also fixed in a
definitive way the number of the Contradas which could take part to the Palio. The
instigating event was the rebirth, happened a few years before, of the Contrada of the
Eagle which wasn't participating for many years to the city feasts and whose territory had
been actually absorbed by the bordering Contradas.
Does the Palio
happen every year uninterruptedly, since its origin?
Yes. The only periods of suspension of
the Palio happened during the two World Wars.