Bruco

Summary

Colors Yellow and green with a blue band
Symbol Caterpillar
Flag Bruco
Terzo Terzo di Camollìa
Headquarters Via del Comune 44
Museum Via del Comune 44
Clubhouse L’Alba, via del Comune 44
Contradaioli Brucaioli
Oratory Santissimo Nome di Gesù
Paitron saint Visitazione di Maria Vergine (2 july)
Enemie(s) Giraffa (dal 1945 al 1996)
Allied contrade Chiocciola (dal 1905 al 2002)
Istrice (dal 1665)
Leocorno (dal 1937 al 1995)
Lupa (fino al 1963)
Nicchio
Torre (dal 1912)
Victories 37 officially recognized
Website http://www.nobilcontradadelbruco.it

Info

Territorium

The Bando di Violante di Baviera from 1730 determined the division of the city of Siena into 17 Contrade. People referred to buildings and their owners instead of the streets (as they do now). The document is still seen today as the basis on which the actual boundaries of the districts were determined.

Today, the following streets are part of the area’s territory:

  • piazza dell’Abbadia (part, including chiesa di San Donato ai Montanini)
  • piazza San Francesco (side street until chiesa della Compagnia di San Gherardo)
  • via Dei Rossi
  • via Vallerozzi (part)
  • Banchi di Sopra (between via dei Rossi and piazza Salimbeni)
  • piazza Salimbeni (part)
  • via del Comune
  • via di Mezzo
  • via degli Orti
  • vicolo degli Orbachi
  • piazza d’Ovile
  • via dell’Abbadia (part)
History

Bruco 3The district has received the title of Nobile for the deployment of its military company against Carlo IV di Boemie in 1369. In addition, it was the Brucaioli (who at that time were seen as troublemakers against rich
masters and exploiters) who in 1371 led by Francesco di Angelo, better known as Barbicone, set in motion a popular uprising against the regime in the city. They wanted peace and bread. As a thank you for what he meant for the city and for the neighborhood, he is still the protector of the neighborhood.

Important locations and Festa Titolare

The Oratory of Bruco is the Santissimo Nome di Gesù, located in via del Comune, just next to the headquarters. There are three different stories about the history and construction of the church. It is quite clear that the church was built by the residents of the neighborhood, with self-supplied and found stones. There are various hypotheses about the time of construction. What is certain is that this is one of the smallest neighborhood churches.

Bruco 1The baptismal fountain is actually a source (Source of San Franscesco) that was opened in 1513 under the Via dei Rossi. In 1978 it was restored and officially renamed the baptismal fountain of the Bruco district. We now recognize a bronze statue of Barbicone and the water flows through the mouth of a caterpillar.

The Festa Titolare in honor of the Visitazione di Maria Vergine is celebrated on July 2. However, the Festa Titolare always takes place the first Sunday after the Palio of 2 July.

Bruco and the Palio

Bruco 4Bruco has 37 wins. The last one dates from August 16, 2008 when Gingillo won with Elisir Logudoro.

Bruco won a Cappotto in 1842 when Figlio di Bonino won twice with morello del Riccucci.

Bruco had little luck in the 20th century. After the very successful 19th century with no less than 16 victories, they could only celebrate 5x in the 20th century. However, the century began ‘normally’ with 3 victories out of 22 years. To win roughly 7 years is considered normal in Siena. After that, however, it went downhill. First they had to wait 33 years, until 1955, for a new victory. Then Bruco proved that things can be worse. Only 41 years later, Bruco won again, in 1996. Since 2000, it has already won 3 times and is back on track.

You can find all the drappelloni won here. The Numeri Unici are also online.

Anecdotes

Bruco was the first neighborhood to choose a foreign jockey. It happened on July 2, 1927: Bruco was assigned a mediocre to poor horse. The captain decided to give Pere Golon, a young Libyan, a chance. The young market squatter was nicknamed Ali. Ali used to ride a horse without a saddle, but it soon became apparent that the Palio was something else. After the first prova, he was taken to the hospital. Ali’s adventure seemed over. But he could count on so much sympathy from the contradaioli. They asked and received refusal not to drive the others so that Ali could recover. He was instructed to prevent Nicchio from winning. He even wanted to go so far as to use a knife during the race. Fortunately it did not come to that. His course was one to forget very quickly, but he did write history.

A district without rivals

Bruco 2

Like many others, Giraffa and Bruco were rivals due to disputes around the neighborhood’s borders. Everything was settled in 1996 after the victory of Bruco after 41 years of waiting …

Despite the fact that the cessation of enmity was even made official, there is still hatred towards the other, especially with older contradaioli. In addition, Bruco has no official report or contact with Oca. So after a victory they never visit each other as tradition dictates. However, there is no rivalry.

Images

Victories

1 02/07/1653 Pavolino ?
2 02/07/1672 Pavolino stornello
3 02/07/1681 Granchio ?
4 06/06/1683 Monco ?
5 02/07/1687 Strega ?
6 02/07/1694 Pavolino Ballarino
Total victories in de 17th century : 6
7 02/07/1711 Pelliccino baio
8 02/07/1720 Romano morello del Paci
9 02/07/1736 Cerrino baio stellato del Mascagni
10 02/04/1739 Pettinaio leardo
11 16/08/1763 Bastiancino baio del Falorsi
12 16/08/1791 Dorino baio chiarro del Baldini
13 02/07/1792 Dorino morello del Fontani
Total victories in de 18th century : 7
14 02/07/1814 Piaccina Rondinello
15 02/07/1816 Ciano baio scuro del Pagliari
16 02/07/1818 Ciano baio scuro del Pagliari
17 02/07/1826 Piaccina stornello pallottato del Brandani
18 16/08/1836 Gobbo Saragiolo baio scuro del Soldatini
19 16/08/1837 Gobbo Saragiolo morello stella in fronte del Ceccarelli
20 02/07/1838 Storto baio del Berbetti
21 03/07/1842 Figlio di Bonino morello del Riccucci
22 17/08/1842 Figlio di Bonino morello del Riccucci
23 04/07/1847 Figlio di Bonino morello maltinto del Buonsignori
24 03/07/1870 Bachicche cavezza di moro del Grandi
25 02/07/1872 Pilesse storno del Grandi
26 16/08/1876 Girocche baio scurro dell’Amaddii
27 16/08/1884 Boggione Farfallina
28 19/08/1894 Fiammifero Belfortina
29 16/08/1896 Fiammifero baia stella in fronte del Vallesi
Total victories in de 19th century : 16
30 16/08/1907 Popo Gobba
31 02/07/1912 Nappa Farfalla
32 16/08/1922 Cispa Fanfara
33 02/07/1955 Ciancone Sturla
34 16/08/1996 Cianchino Rose Rosa
Total victories in de 20th century : 5
35 16/08/2003 Trecciolino Berio
36 02/07/2005 Trecciolino Berio
37 16/08/2008 Gingillo Elisir Logudoro
Total victories in de 21st century : 3

Drappelloni and Numeri Unici

Drappellone and Numeri Unici can be found on pages on our Dutch website (pages will open in new tab) :

Debuting fantini

  • Since July 2, 1775, 483 fantini debuted on the Piazza
  • In 1928, no less than 9 fantini debuted (in 3 courses).
  • 21 fantini won their debut.
  • Bruco had 31 fantini debut since 1775
  • None of them won on their debut
  • The longest period without a debutant is 19 years : 16/8/1815-17/8/1834
1 Begnamino 16/8/1779
2 Groppasecca I 2/7/1784
3 Polpettino 2/7/1797
4 Moscadello 8/9/1803
5 Domenico 2/7/1805
6 Fratello di Botto 16/8/1809
7 Ragazzo Pisano 16/8/1815
8 Diavoletto 17/8/1834
9 Budello 18/8/1842
10 Natalino 2/7/1849
11 Piacera 15/8/1856
12 Mecarello 2/6/1861
13 Marzialetto 15/8/1864
14 Rocco 16/8/1868
15 Nula 16/8/1875
16 Tabarre 2/7/1885
17 Scio’ 16/8/1892
18 Martellino II 3/7/1898
19 Magnelli Nello 3/7/1904
20 Salvucci Settimio 16/8/1911
21 Ali’ 2/7/1927
22 Morino III 14/9/1928
23 Fildiferro I 2/7/1947
24 Ghisa 16/8/1948
25 Granatino 16/8/1951
26 Aceto 2/7/1964
27 Baino 2/7/1967
28 Marasma 18/8/1976
29 Voragine 2/7/1995
30 Ciclone 3/7/1997
31 Gingillo 16/8/2002

Never happened

Below you will find events that have never happened before and that cause some kind of superstition in the contradaioli. MAI or never is of course a relative term. The further we go back in time, the less data is stored and the more uncertain we become.

Bruco has never :

  1. won when they rode together with Chiocciola and Drago, Drago and Leocorno, Drago and Lupa, Giraffa and Valdimontone, Istrice and Valdimontone, Leocorno and Valdimontone, Lupa and Selva
  2. won in July when Valdimontone also rode
  3. won when they were selected as 2nd, 3th, 4th or 9th (estrazione)
  4. won from position 2, 5 or 8 at the start
  5. won when they were at the start next to Drago, Istrice, Leocorno, Lupa, Oca, Pantera, Torre or Valdimontone
  6. een palio gewonnen wanneer ze uitgeloot werden samen met Aquila, Chiocciola, Civetta, Giraffa, Istrice, Nicchio, Oca, Pantera, Selva of Tartuca
  7. won a palio when they were drawn together with Drago, Leocorno of Valdimontone
  8. won a palio in august when estracted together with Torre
  9. won a palio with cavalli scossi
  10. won a palio with Chiocciola of Leocorno as rincorsa
Last update : 18 november 2019