The "Contrade" of "Palio di Siena
"The "Palio di Siena" the most famous palio, is an horse
race held twice each year on July 2nd and August 16th in Siena, in which
ten horses and riders, dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten
of the seventeen "Contrade" or city wards. These districts were
set up in the Middle Age 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 Contrade have lost their administrative and military functions and have
instead become simply areas of localised patriotism, held together by the
emotions and sense of civic pride of the residents. Their roles have broadened
so that every important event - baptism, death, marriages, church holidays,
victories at the Palio, even wine or food festivals - is celebrated only
within one's own Contrada. A magnificent pageant precedes the race, which
attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. The winner is awarded
a banner of painted silk, or Palio, which is newly created by a different
artist for each race.
We produce coats of arms, different for size, shape and materials. We use
for them terracotta,and wood or metal too. We paint drums and neckerchief
with symbols of Contrade. We have big and small sculptures of the animals
which represent the Contrade and many other products all hand-made and guaranteed
from the “Consorzio per la tutela del Palio di Siena”.
