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 San Domenico
• via del Paradiso
• via della Sapienza
• vicolo della Palla a Corda
• via di Camporegio
• via delle Terme (part)
• via dei Termini (part)
• via dei Pontàni (part)
• Banchi di Sopra (part)
• via dei Montanini (part)
• via dei Malavolti
• viale Curtatone
• via dell’Arco dei Malavolti
• costa di Sant’Antonio (part)
• costa dell’Incrociata
• piazza Matteotti
• piazza Camporegio
• piazzetta degli Alberghi
• vicolo del Campaccio
• vicolo della Rosa
• vicolo del Cavalletto
• vicolo del Rustichetto

Geschiedenis

The Drago, Chiocciola, Giraffa and Onda neighborhoods were the first neighborhoods of Siena with their own symbol. At the “Gioco delle Pugna” of 1494 they already came out under that name. In some old documents, even in 1481, Contrada del Drago is already being discussed, and this without public events.

Until the mid-17th century, the Drago district was limited to houses and shops. From 1650 the San Domenico church and the accompanying monastery to Camporegio are also considered. From 1679 they even want to contribute to the costs of the Palio, on condition that, in case of victory, the Palio also could be shown on the altar of the San Domenico. This arrangement lasted almost a hundred years and ended as a result of a disagreement after the victory of Drago in the Palio of July 2, 1738.

Drago is also the neighborhood with the oldest preserved medieval costume in “Spanish style” from 1839.

Important locations and Festa Titolare

The Oratory of Drago is located on Piazza Matteotti. The Santa Caterina del Paradiso is now owned by the district but was founded in 1479 by the sisters of Santa Caterina del Paradiso, after whom the church was also named. The old church was replaced in 1620-1626 by the current building. Since 1787 it became the Oratory of Drago.

The baptismal fountain is located behind the gate for the entrance door of the Oratory. It was made in 1977 by Vico Consorti.

The Festa Titolare in honor of patron saint Santa Caterina da Siena is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. The patron saint is shared with Oca, who celebrate her on the second Sunday of May.

Drago and the Palio

Drago has 39 officially recognized victories. The latter dates from July 2, 2022, with Giovanni Atzeni (Tittia) on Zio Frac.

Drago won 1 cappotto in 1890.

Despite periods of 10, 15 and even 20 years without victory, the 20th century was the most successful for Drago with 16 wins. Both between 1962 and 1966, and between 1986 and 1993, Drago won 4 times.

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

Anecdotes

The Palio della Pace has entered history as one of the most turbulent ever. What should have been a celebration of the end of the World War led to a real battle. Bruco, who had set their sights on this Palio and wanted to win at all costs, managed to bribe everyone, including the mossiere. Only Rubacuori, Drago’s fantino, didn’t want to know about a bribe.

Two false starts (perhaps because Bruco did not start well) and Tartuca’s withdrawal (due to disagreement with those false starts) made it interesting without the course even getting started. Bruco (of course) started best of al participants. They remained in the lead until the final round. Followed by Rubacuori on the 19-year-old Folco (the horse with the most victories in the history of the Palio). In the final round, Drago passed Bruco and won. However, this was not appreciated by the Brucaioli who tore up the drappellone and treated the Dragaioli present to a few punches. A few months after the Palio, Drago got a new drappellone. This time with a small adaptation of the painter: on the Drago logo the dragon got a small caterpillar in her mouth.

A contrada that never had an enemy

Drago is the only Contrada who has never had an official enemy. Despite the difficult period with Lupa in the 50s and 60s, and more recently with Selva and Bruco. None of these disagreements has been translated into a rivalry. Drago is also the district with the most ‘political stability’ in Siena, on average, the terms of office of its leaders last longer than in any other district.

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

• Drappellone
• Numeri Unici

• 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.

• Drago had 36 fantini debut since 1775
• Peppinello won on his debute
• The longest period without a debutant is 29 years : 2/7/1964-2/7/1993

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.

Drago has never :

1. won when they were selected as 1st or 7th (estrazione)
2. won from position 7 or 9 at he start, neither as rincorsa
3. won a july palio after being extracted together with Lupa or Nicchio or Oca or Onda or Valdimontone
4. won a palio in august after being extracted together with Aquila or Bruco or Istrice or Leocorno or Oca or Tartuca or Torre or Valdimontone
5. won a palio alla romana
6. won a palio with Aquila or Civetta or Oca or Onda as rincorsa