Aquila Fountain

Istrice Fountain

Torre Fountain

Torre

Pictures of Contrada Fountains and Signs

For the past week my mom, dad, and I have been looking for every contrada fountain and headquarters. It is like a scavenger hunt looking for signs to see what contrada your in. There are even plug covers with the contrada animal on them.

This will be my last post without pictures.

Here are some pictures of fountains, headquarters, and signs of the contradas that I will post next.

Contrade and Palio

Siena is split up into seventeen sections, like neighborhoods. They are called contrade. Generally, you can only join a contrada if you are born into it. Every July 2nd and August 16th is the Palio, which is a horse race and a pageant. It started in the 11th century. The Palio is in honor of the Virgin Mary. Ten contradas compete on each of the days. The Palio combines both chance or luck and preparation because the horses and the order that they race in line are drawn out of a hat at random. The contrada can choose its Fontina or jockey and he can train the horse. We saw the Palio when we were here five years ago and again three years ago. The night before the Palio the members of the contrada have a feast in the streets, the streets are decorated with festive lights and banners. We were guests of the Onda or wave contrada feast. The morning of the Palio the horse of the contrada is blessed in the contrada’s church. During the afternoon there is a parade that shows each contrada in medieval costumes. The winner of the race is the first horse, with or without a rider, to circle three times around the Piazza del Campo. The Palio itself is a banner that the winning contrada gets. The members of the winning contrada go to the Duomo and give thanks to Mary. The contradas help Siena to not be city of very much crime because every one takes care of the people in their contrada.
The contradas are:
Pantera or panther
Chiocciola or snail
Istrice or porcupine
Civetta or owl
Leocorno or unicorn
Drago or dragon
Selva or forest
Tartuca or tortoise
Bruco or caterpillar
Onda or wave
Oca or goose
Torre or tower
Lupa or wolf
Nicchio or seashell
Valdimontone or literally means valley of the ram
Aquila or eagle
Giraffa or giraffe

Assisi

On Friday we also went to Assisi. It was very cool! We went to a lot of churches. Saint Frances is the patron saint of Assisi. He was a animal lover and there is a painting of him preaching to the birds. I really like Saint Frances. We went inside one of Saint Frances' church and in the church were paintings of his life. There happened to be, when we came, a Saint Frances monk gathering were monks from all over the world come and sleep on the ground to enjoy nature in honor of Saint Frances. I really liked Assisi!

Perugina Chocolate Factory

On Friday I went to the Perugina chocolate factory with all of the Siena Italian Studies program my mom, dad, and friends that are visiting us. First we saw a video about how the make the chocolate. I didn't think that it went through so many procedures. I also found out that Nestle is Swiss, I thought that it was American. We then had a tour. The factory smelled so good! We walked on a hallway over the rooms were they have conveyor belts to moves the candy from place to place. There is a very popular candy of Perugina called Baci or Kisses it is dark chocolate and has a hazelnut in the middle. I think that it is really good! Our tour guide said that there were 1,200 or so people who work at the factory. There is even a job for putting a hazelnut in the middle. I thought that that sounds like a very boring job!

Easter

Yesterday, Easter morning I went to the Duomo with my mom, dad and a family friend who just got here. She is coming to visit us for a week and a half. The Duomo is the Bishop's church. The Bishop was there and he gave a sermon about something about the world and ghosts. It was cool! There was also singing. There were a lot of people. I was suprised that the native Italians were not dressed up at all. There was also communion but, I did not do it. Here there are really big chocolate, hollow eggs with toys inside them. They don't dye eggs here but, they do eat lamb for Easter dinner. I really like Easter!

First Time Riding a Motor Scooter

Last Wednesday I rode a motor scooter with my dad and my aunt and uncle (who came to visit us) were on a motor scooter too! At first I was scared and I was afraid of falling off but, then I got used to it and I was not as afraid. It is really thrilling and you feel so free. I would recommend renting a motor scooter. We rode to Asciano, past Murlo, Montalcino, and back to Siena. I had to wear a big helmet and it was heavy. Once I got off the scooter in Asciano my neck felt weird. It was a very cool experience!

The Mangia Tower

The Mangia Tower is the City Hall’s 330-foot-tall City Tower on one of the sides of the Campo. It is Italy’s tallest secular tower. It was named after a the bell ringer who enjoyed life, when he got his money from work, he used his money on food. That is why it is called the Mangia Tower. Mangia means to eat in Italian. In front of the City Hall or Palazzo Pubblico is his statue. I just learned that and I thought that it was funny. Also, now you can climb up to the top of the tower which is very fun, especially because you can see the Campo, the countryside and most of Siena below. I really like climbing all the towers it is a lot of fun!

Lucca

On Friday I went to Lucca with the students of the Siena Italian Studies program, my mom, brother, who came to visit for three weeks, and dad. We went to the San Martino cathedral and there was a very different Jesus on the crucifix, Volto Santo. It is said to have been by Nicodemus in Jerusalem and put in a boat. The boat landed on the coast of Tuscany, where wild oxen miraculously carried it to Lucca. The Jesus is black, has a beard, a moustache, does not have nails in his feet, is wearing a crown of gold, not thorns, and has Asian eyes. I thought that this Jesus was very cool because it is so different from all the other paintings that you see of Jesus. I would have a picture of the crucifix but, we were not allowed to take pictures.