43.3188° N, 11.3308° E
"You go not where you want to go, but where the industry has decreed you shall go." Siena is a place of tourism for us; Siena is also a home for others. The correct definition for place is a particular position, point, or location, but a place can be a variety of things. In "the Beaten Track" by James Buzzard, a place of tourism was described as a fashion to follow. The places we go to visit are characterized by what you go see. For example, Florence is a great place to visit because David is located there, but what exactly is so fascinating about Florence as a city? A place is represented by what we as people associate with said particular place. A place isn't defined by its name or its location, but by what we experience once we get there.
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43.7696° N, 11.2558° EIn Siena there is a big sense of community, but the communities start within the contradas, which is the different regions of Siena. There are 17 contradas in Siena; Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Owl), Drago (Dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (Porcupine), Leocorno (Unicorn), Lupa (She-wolf), Valdimontone (Ram), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Pantheress), Selva (Forest), Torre (Tower), Tartuca (Turtle), Nicchio (Shell). Each contrada has their own museum and church within their region. Also, every contrada participates in the Palio twice a year on July 2nd & August 13th. The Palio is basically a horse race; each contrada is assigned a horse, then the horse & its chosen jockey competes in a race around Piazza Del Campo. The Events of the Palio start 3 days prior to the actual race. They have banquets, parades, celebrations, and most importantly the blessing of the horses. The most important fact to remember about the Palio is that the contradas goal is not to be the winner, but to make sure that their enemy contrada does not win. They don't care in they come in 7th place just as long as their enemy comes in 8th. To them, it's not about being first; it's just about being one place ahead of your enemy.
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37.9838° N, 23.7275° EJust a horse race, or a way of life?
Some people claim that the Palio is just a horse race that the Sienese do for fun twice a year, but the Sienese see the horse race as much more than just a game. The Sienese take pride in their contradas, they don't just acknowledge their contradas twice a year when the Palio comes around. They are always celebrating and recognizing where they come from. (In my previous blog, you can read more about the contradas and their backgrounds.) The Sienese that so much honor in the Palio that they make it a 3 day event that includes celebrations, dinner, blessings, and ultimate bonding time within each contrada. In those 90 seconds that the horses are racing in the Palio, it's not just a race to the people of Siena, but rather their way of living. |