Chiocciola


Summary
ColorsRed and yellow with a blue band
SymbolSnail
TerzoTerzo di Città
HeadquartersVia San Marco 31
MuseumCripta della Chiesa di San Pietro e Paolo
ClubhouseSocietà “San Marco”, via San Marco 77
ContradaioliChiocciolini
OratotyChiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo
Paitron SaintSanti apostoli Pietro e Paolo (29 juni)
Enemie(s)Tartuca (da prima del 1652)
Allied contradeBruco (dal 1905 al 2002)
Istrice (dal 1947)
Pantera (dal 1813)
Selva (dal 1790)
Tartuca (dal 1689 al 1814, dal 1820 al 1840, dal 1866 al 1910)
Torre (dal 1989 al 1972)
Victories51 officially recognized
Websitehttp://www.contradadellachiocciola.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:

  • via di San Marco
  • via delle Sperandie
  • via della Diana
  • Pian dei Mantellini (part)
  • via di San Quirico (part)
  • via Tommaso Pendola (part)
quercia

The former territory of the extinct Contrada della Quercia is also included in the Chiocciola area. The coat of arms of Quercia is visible in some Chiocciola flags.

Quercia, by the way, was the only district of Siena that had territory outside the gates (Porta San Marco in this case) and walls of the city. More specifically, the Sant’Eugenio Abate monastery was included in the territory of Quercia.

History

In 1466 the residents of “borgo di San Marco” (village of San Marco) donated some buildings in the city to the monastery of San Marta (territory of Chiocciola). In exchange, the nuns were responsible for the restaurant of the San Pietro hospital. Four beds always had to be made available to the poor and a mass had to be dedicated to San Pietro and Santa Marta every week. The Contrada was already in possession of a few houses at the time and had close ties with the church.

In 1482, both Chiocciola and Giraffa built a cart for the Corteo Storico of the “Gioco delle Pugna” with the image of their respective neighborhood. This was the first time in history that two neighborhoods associated themselves with an animal and named their neighborhood after it.

Chiocciola 3

Since the end of the nineteenth, until the end of the twentieth century, there were no agreements about symbols of the neighborhoods. So everyone could design their own flag. Until the end of the Second World War, flags of the neighborhood were extremely rare, partly due to the high costs. Clarity was created on the occasion of the 1957 victory. The district suggested that protettori (protectors, or members) would pay money and in this way be able to “borrow” a flag that could be used at certain times (eg birth, death, victory, etc.). The design of Dino Rofi from 1954 was chosen and is still the image used to this day. (red and yellow scales with a blue border).

Important locations and Festa Titolare

The Oratory of Chiocciola, Chiesa di San Pietro and Paolo was designed by Flaminio del Turco. It has been in use of the neighborhood since 1814.

In front of the Oratory we find the baptismal fountain of the neighborhood. The image (child on the back of a snail) was sculpted by Fulvio Corsini and installed in 1947. On the base it reads: “Quando alla Chiocciola vittoria arriderà / questa fontana buon vino getterà” (if Chiocciola wins, wine will spray from it this fountain).

The Festa Titolare takes place on 29 June (day of the Palio tratta of 2 July) and is in honor of Santi apostoli Pietro e Paolo.

Chiocciola 1
Chiocciola 4
Chiocciola and the Palio

Chiocciola has 51 officially recognized victories. The last one dates from August 16, 1999, with Massimino on Votta Votta.

In the history of the Palio, Chiocciola won 1x a Cappotto, in 1850.

Chiocciola is a contrada who wins a lot. After Oca it is the district with the most wins. They win between 14 and 19 races per century. A constant and high average.

Anecdotes

The name “affogasanti” (saint drowners) dates from the late 19th century and brings to mind a particularly sad period for the colors of San Marco.

After the victory in July 1888, a fairly long period of no longer began to win. Something they were not used to at Chiocciola in that period (with 12 wins in 38 years!). During the Palio of July 2, 1896, Chiocciola seemed to win. During the entire race, Chiocciola was in the lead, only to be passed by Torre with debutant Scansino after the last Casato. Many contradaioli ascribed the loss to an error by the captain who had chosen a false fantino with Cecco. One chiocciolino, on the other hand, was looking for another scapegoat and furiously went into the stable. There he broke loose the image of San Antonio (patron saint of animals) and threw it into a well in his attack of anger. A huge mistake because San Antonio of Padua was also the protector of Tartuca, also enemy of Chiocciola at that time.

Chiocciola also continued to lose sensationally in the following years. In 1897 an exciting race was settled between Chiocciola, Istrice, Leocorno and Giraffa. Istrice, with the strongest horse in the lead, fell and stopped Leocorno in his fall. Chiocciola took the lead and seemed to be heading for a win. One meter before the finish line, it was Scansino again, this time for Giraffa, who pulled the longest.

The same protagonists in August: Chiocciola, back with fantino Mugnaino and Giraffa who this time chose Massimino. Giraffa won again (a cappotto) and Chiocciola was second again (third race in a row!). For Mugnaino this meant the end of his career.

Chiocciola 2

The bad luck continued into the new century. Silently some contradaioli began to think of the curse of Saint Anthony, drowned in the well. At the Palio of July 1901, the victory finally appeared. After two laps, Chiocciola had a more than safe lead. Suddenly Emilio Lazzeri detto Fiammifero stopped. He jumped off his horse, and left the victory to Nicchio. Ironically, it was Scansino who won again. He became the “black beast” of Chiocciola. In 1902 and 1910 Scansino won twice for Tartuca! The curse of San Antonio did not seem to end. In October 1910, the women of the neighborhood were fed up. They drained the well and brought the image back up. The statue, which had clearly abandoned all those years under water, was restored and given a beautiful place in the church of the neighborhood. The first opportunity to test the forgiveness of San Antonio came on July 2, 1911. Chiocciola took the lead and led the entire course. Suddenly a Tartucino released a dog in the hope of destabilizing the horse of Chiocciola and thus keeping the victory. The plan failed, and Chiocciola won!

Since then “affogasanti” has been nicknamed the chiocciolini and since June 29, 1972 is also the title of the official magazine of the Contrada.

The rivalry with Tartuca

The rivalry between Chiocciola and Tartuca is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted in Siena. Moments of enmity alternated moments of friendship and self-alliance. Since 1910, and a victory for Tartuca, we are once again in a period of enmity.


Victories
1

03/07/1661
Pavolino
Leprino di Buonconvento

2

02/07/1668
Bacchino
?

3

02/07/1690
Pier Maria
?

4

02/07/1695
Pulcino
Baietto

5

16/08/1701
Giuseppone
morello

6

02/07/1708
Ignudo
stornello di Siena

7

02/07/1710
Ignudo
leardo castrone

8

03/06/1712
Strega
Baio di Siena

9

02/07/1713
Ruglia
castrone

10

 17/08/1718
Morino
?

11

16/08/1719
Morino
Freghino

12

02/07/1722
Cappellaro
Moschino

13

17/08/1733
Pettinaio
leardo moscato di Corniolini

14

16/08/1743
Cerrino
morello del Baldassarrini

15

02/07/1752
Il Lasca
sauro dorato del Chiti

16

17/08/1753
Alisè
?

17

02/07/1767
Bastiancino
baio scuro del Mancini

18

16/08/1768
Nacche
falbo del Felloni

19

16/08/1770
Castagnino
morello del Fontanelli

20

02/07/1771
Bastiancino
sauro dorato del Vegni

21

17/08/1772
Bastiancino
stornello corvo

22

02/07/1788
Biggeri
baio sfacciato di fronte

23

16/08/1798
Ciocio
morello del Ceccarelli

24

02/07/1822
Brandino
morello maltinto del Meini

25

02/07/1823
Gobbo Saragiolo
baio scuro del Pagliai

26

02/07/1850
Folaghino
baio del Bernardini

27

16/08/1850
Folaghino
morello del Cianchelli

28

16/08/1853
Paolaccino
baio scuro del Bandini

29

02/07/1855
Paolaccino
baio brusciato del Franci

30

02/07/1857
Paolaccino
baio balzano stellino

31

16/08/1858
Paolaccino
baio balzano stellino

32

03/07/1864
Bachicche
morello del Grandi

33

04/07/1869
Marzialetto
baio dell’Amaddi

34

17/08/1873
Girocche
storno del Pisani

35

03/07/1882
Bachicche
Prete

36

02/07/1885
Bachicche
morello balzano del Venturini

37

02/07/1888
Tabarre
Gemma

38

02/07/1911
Nappa
Stella

39

16/08/1924
Picino
Giacca

40

16/08/1925
Cispa
Fiorello

41

16/08/1926
Cispa
Margiacchina

42

16/08/1938
Tripolino
Sansano

43

02/07/1949
Bazza
Lirio

44

02/07/1957
Vittorino
Tanaquila

45

16/08/1964
Peppinello
Danubio della Crucca

46

17/08/1966
Canapetta
Beatrice

47

02/07/1968
Canapetta
Selvaggia

48

17/08/1975
Aceto
Panezio

49

02/07/1976
Valente
Quebel

50

16/08/1982
Bazzino
Panezio

51

16/08/1999
Massimino
Votta Votta

Chiocciola attributes himself to three additional victories. However, these are not recognized by the City:

  1. 2 luglio 1654: there are no reports that testify to the existence of this Palio
  2. 21 settembre 1679: bufalata in Villa Cetinale won by fantino Flavio Chigi.
  3. 28 settembre 1856: Palio ridden in Florence.

Images

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.
  • Chiocciola had 28 fantini debuting since 1775
  • Gobbo Saragiolo won at his debut
  • The longest period without a debutant is 27 years : 2/7/1923-16/8/1958
1Piaccina16/8/1787
2Figlio di Niccodemo3/7/1794
3Botto16/8/1796
4Baggiani Mugnaio2/7/1802
5Tonfo14/5/1809
6Gobbo Saragiolo2/7/1823
7Barege2/7/1832
8Saltatore3/7/1842
9Bigonzo16/8/1843
10Broccolo2/7/1846
11Piccolo Campanino15/8/1848
12Stambini Luigi17/8/1851
13Gano Di Catera3/7/1853
14Stoccolungo16/8/1861
15Il Matto2/7/1867
16Gonga2/7/1874
17Filusella2/7/1878
18Chiccone2/7/1900
19Porcino2/7/1923
20Musingo16/8/1958
21Canapino II2/7/1960
22Capretto2/7/1969
23Tremoto3/7/1978
24Faenza17/8/1980
25Pistillo16/8/1993
26Andrea2/7/1996
27Lo Zedde16/8/2005
28Nappa II16/8/2011

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.

Chiocciola has never :

  1. won a palio in the 21st centurty
  2. won ridding together with Drago and Lupa, Lupa and Onda, Lupa and Selva
  3. won when they were selected as 2nd or 8th (estrazione)
  4. won from position 4 of 9 at the start
  5. won when they were at the start next to Aquila or Istrice or Oca or Onda
  6. won a palio when extracted together with Aquila or Civetta or Drago or Istrice or Leocorno or Lupa or Nicchio or Onda or Selva or Tartuca or Torre or Valdimontone
  7. won a palio in july after they were drawn
  8. drawn together with Nicchio in july
  9. won a palio alla romana
  10. won a palio with cavalli scossi
  11. won a palio when Tartuca was the rincorsa
Last update : 18 november 2019