Summary
ColorsWhite and orange with a purple band
SymbolUnicorn
TerzoTerzo di San Martino
HeadquartersPiazza Virgilio Grassi
MuseumPiazza Virgilio Grassi
ClubhouseSocietà “Il Cavallino”, Piazza Virgilio Grassi
ContradaioliLecaioli
OratorySan Giovannino in Pantaneto
Paitron SaintSan Giovanni Battista (24 june)
Enemie(s)Civetta (dal 1960)
Allied contradeBruco (dal 1937 al 1995)
Civetta (dal 1795 fino al 1960)
Pantera (dal 1792)
Tartuca (dal 1815)
Torre (dal 1793 al 1980)
Victories30 officially recognized
Websitehttp://www.contradaleocorno.it

Info
Territory

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 Pantaneto (part)
  • via Sallustio Bandini (part)
  • Banchi di Sotto (part)
  • via di Follonica
  • via San Vigilio (part)
  • via delle Logge del Papa (part)
  • via del Porrione (part)
  • via San Martino (part)
  • via Pagliaresi (part)
  • vicolo Magalotti
  • via degli Orefici
spadaforte

The former territory of the extinct Contrada della Spadaforte has also been partially included in Leocorno. The other piece is part of Torre.

History

Legend says that the chiesa di San Giovannino, where the Oratory of the district is currently located, originated on the ruins of an ancient Jupiter temple.

A small bell (campanile) has been preserved at the headquarters of the neighborhood. The legend says that this is the “martinella” of the Carroccio that was used during the Battle of Montaperti (1260) where Siena defeated the Florentines.

Leocorno 3
Important locations and Festa Titolare
Leocorno 1

The Oratory of Leocorno San Giovannino in Pantaneto is located in Piazza Virgilio Grassi. The entire contrada life of the Leocorno district takes place on and around this square. The church was built in the 16th century on an old Romanesque building dedicated to John the Baptist from the thirteenth century. On the walls of the church there are 15 painted stories about the life of John the Baptist. First the chapel of the church was used for meetings of the neighborhood. Between 1776 and 1869 the church was used by the district as an Oratory. Afterwards they had to move to the nearby Chiesa di San Giorgio. The church has been in use by Leocorno since 1966.

The baptismal fountain is located in Via Pantaneto and was designed by Carlo Nepi in 1997.

The Festa Titolare in honor of San Giovanni Battista is celebrated on June 24.

Leocorno and the Palio

Leocorno counts 31 wins. The last one dates from 17 August 2022 when Tittia won on Violenta Da Clodia.

Until now, Leocorno never won a Cappotto.

Between August 16, 1704 and August 18, 1776, Leocorno won no Palios. 72 years the neighborhood had to wait for a new victory. In the 18th century Leocorno only achieved 3 victories. A depth record.

Since 1980, when the “cuffia” after 24 years as “nonna” went away, they won 7x the Palio in 35 years, a nice average. As a result, they have grown as a neighborhood from a very small neighborhood to a mediocre population.

Anecdotes

The motto of the Contrada (Fiede et risana al para l ‘c’ho in fronte) refers to the old belief that the horn of the unicorn was an all-healing panacea. Legend says that the unicorn comes from the Narwhal, a type of whale with a huge horn. You can also find an authentic Narwal horn in the museum of the neighborhood.

The use of the unicorn in a coat of arms is very popular in Tuscany. You can also find it in the coat of arms of the Santa Maria Novella district in Florence, at the Santa Maria al Prato district of Pistoia, and at Porta di Capo di Ponte in Prato.

Leocorno 2

Leocorno, formerly one with Torre under the name “Liofante” is the only neighborhood that has changed its name throughout history. At old public parties, Leocorno came out with a leopard (Leopardo). Later they started using Leocorno, the unicorn.

The change of name and logo had consequences for their Palio history and happened several times. For example, they did not win any Palio under the name Leopardo for 72 years (between 1704 and 1776). In 1800 it was decided to go through life as Leocorno. That became Leopardo again between 1827 and 1902.

In 1902 it became Leocorno, with the unicorn as a symbol. Since then it has won no less than 13 of the in total 30 Palio won!

The name of the neighborhood is popularly abbreviated to Leco.

Rivalry with Civetta

The rivalry between the Civetta and Leocorno is a very recent one, which originated in the late fifties, and officially became in 1960. The cause are disputes around borders.


Victories
1

02/07/1662
Pavolino
?

2

01/06/1664
Chellini Francesco
Balzanello

3

03/07/1667
Bacchino
leardo

4

16/08/1704
Marracchino
Salta la macchia

5

18/08/1776
Ciocio
stornello del Santini

6

02/07/1795
Piaccina
baio scuro del Bologni

7

02/07/1809
Biggeri
Rondinello

8

16/08/1815
Caino
baio dorato del Chiarini

9

16/08/1818
Piaccina
baio scuro del Pagliai

10

02/07/1827
Stecco
baio bruciato del Galanti

11

17/08/1828
Campanino
baio dorato del Batazzi

12

02/07/1839
Partino
morello del Riccucci

13

02/07/1845
Sagrino
morello del Barbetti

14

03/07/1851
Paolaccino
morella con piccola stella

15

16/08/1857
Mascherino
baio gaggio del Merlotti

16

02/07/1860
Spagnoletto
baio scuro del Merlotti

17

16/08/1883
Sordo
morello del Carlini

18

17/04/1904
Picino
Primetta

19

02/07/1919
Cispa
Giacca

20

17/08/1920
Rancani
Esperta

21

02/07/1929
Porcino
Giacca

22

16/08/1950
Rompighiaccio
Niduzza

23

05/09/1954
Vittorino
Gaudenzia

24

17/08/1980
Aceto
Uana de Lechereo

25

03/07/1983
Bastiano
Benito III

26

02/07/1993
Il Pesse
Barabba

27

16/08/1995
Il Pesse
Bella Speranza

28

16/08/2000

Venus VIII

29

02/07/2001
Trecciolino
Ugo Sanchez

30

16/08/2007
Scompiglio
Brento

31

17/08/2022
Tittia
Violenta Da Clodia

Leocorno grants itself two additional victories, not recognized by the City of Siena:

  1. 1611: bufalata
  2. 2 luglio 1666: non official Palio. Some sources report that he was won by Leocorno, others say Valdimontone, Nicchio or Onda.

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.
  • Leocorno had 39 fantini debute since 1775
  • No less than 4 of them won on their debut : Ciocio, Partino Minore, Sagrino and Scompiglio
  • The longest period without a debutant is 22 years : 16/8/1959-2/7/1981
1Ciocio16/8/1776
2Lollo16/8/1780
3Dorino16/8/1781
4Uccellino2/7/1785
5Sansoncino2/7/1797
6Livornino30/3/1819
7Partino Minore2/7/1839
8Giorgini16/8/1839
9Fornaio2/7/1840
10Sagrino2/7/1845
11Mascherino I2/7/1857
12Del Croce Domenico3/7/1864
13Cecco2/7/1867
14Leggerino2/7/1873
15Masino II2/7/1884
16Vetturini Giulio19/8/1894
17Pioviscola2/7/1895
18Popo23/9/1896
19Bibbiena16/8/1897
20Carosi Ettore2/7/1911
21Rossi Angelo2/7/1924
22Napoletano2/7/1931
23Il Biondo16/8/1935
24Saragiolo II18/5/1947
25Morino V2/7/1948
26Zanna16/8/1949
27Ganghero2/7/1952
28Seguito16/8/1955
29Pennello16/8/1959
30Il Bersaglia2/7/1981
31Falchino16/8/1984
32Olinto16/8/1991
33Battaglia16/8/1997
34Pampero2/7/1998
35Bighino2/7/1999
36Scompiglio16/8/2007
37Filuferro16/8/2009
38Grandine16/8/2012
39Turbine2/7/2015

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.

Leocorno has ever :

  1. won a cappotto
  2. won riding together with Chiocciola and Oca, Istrice and Tartuca
  3. won in august when Oca rode
  4. won when they were selected as 1st or 8th (estrazione)
  5. won starting from position 2 or 7 at the start
  6. won standing next to Drago or Nicchio or Oca at the start
  7. won a july palio after being drawn with Aquila or Civetta or Drago or Giraffa or Lupa or Nicchio or Oca or Onda or Pantera or Tartuca or Valdimontone
  8. won an august palio after being drawn with Aquila or Civetta or Drago or Istrice or Lupa or Onda or Pantera or Torre or Valdimontone
  9. won a palio alla romana
  10. won a palio when Bruco, Civetta, Pantera, Torre or Valdimontone was the rincorsa
Last update : 23 august 2022