Istrice

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istrice
Summary
ColorsWhite and black with red and blue band
SymbolPorcupine
TerzoTerzo di Camollìa
ZetelVia di Camollia 89
MuseumVia di Camollia 87
HeadquartersSocietà “Il Leone”, via di Camollia
ContradaioliIstriciaioli
OratoryChiesa di San Vincenzo e Anastasio
Paitron SaintS. Bartolomeo Apostolo (24  august)
Enemie(s)Lupa (dal 1934)
Allied contradeBruco (dal 1665)
Chiocciola (dal 1947)
Civetta (dal 1933)
Giraffa (dal 1795)
Lupa (fino al 1934)
Victories41 officially recognized
Websitehttp://www.istrice.org
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 Camollìa
  • Via di Fontegiusta
  • Via Malta
  • Via del Cavallerizzo (part)
  • Via Montanini (part)
  • vie del Romitorio
  • via del Sasso di San Bernardino
  • vie dei Gazzani
  • via Garibaldi (part)
  • via degli Umiliati
  • via Campansi
  • via del Pignattello
  • via Rinaldo Franci
  • via Cesare Maccari
  • via XXV Aprile
  • via dei Mille
  • via la Lizza
  • Piazza Antonio Gramsci
  • PiazzaCosta Paparoni
  • Piazza Guido Chigi Saracini
  • Vicolo di Malizia
  • Vicolo della Magione
  • Vicolo dello Sportello
leone

The former territory of the extinct Contrada del Leone is also fully included in the area of Istrice. The community center is named after this disappeared Contrada.

History

The district was named ‘Sovrana’ with permission from Sovrano Ordine Militare di Malta in 1980. La Magione dei Templari is located in the district and has a seat along the old Via Francigena, the old road between Canterbury and Rome.

Istrice 3
Istrice 1

Importand locations and Festa Titolare

The Oratory of Istrice is the Chiesa di San Vincenzo and Anastasio, located in via Camollia. The building, dating from 1144, was completely renovated in the 18th century. In 1871 the church became the property of the neighborhood.

The baptismal fountain is located in Via Malta and was realized in 1962 by Vico Consorti.

The Festa Titolare in honor of San Bartolomeo Apostolo is celebrated on August 24. Bartolomeo was one of the 12 apostles.

Istrice and the Palio

Istrice has 41 wins. The last one dates from 2 July 2008 when Trecciolino won on Già del Menhir.

Until now Istrice never won a Cappotto.

After July 2, 1975, Istrice won no more than 25 years the Palio. The first Palio of the new century and millennium was for them. It was Trecciolino who delivered them from their suffering. Two months later, the winning horse Gangelies rode for Lupa. However, it was Selva who won the Palio. That same evening, all Istriciaioli walked through the streets decorated with Christmas balls and garlands. Despite the immense fright that Lupa would win that year, it still became a warm winter.

Istrice 4
Anecdotes

Istrice won the Palio di Provenzano of 1862 on 1 June. This was held a month early to coincide with la Festa dello Statuto.

Istrice 2

The Palio started very turbulent. With a false start, Lupa, Tartuca and Torre fell heavily. The horses of Lupa and Tartuca unfortunately had to pay the price. Under the threatening darkness it was decided to postpone the Palio. Despite the fact that the horse of Torre was not 100% because of the heavy fall, he did leave first. Only in the third San Martino Chiocciola came alongside. A fierce battle began between the two fantini: Annibale Maggiori for Torre and Angiolo Fabbri detto Spagnoletto for Chiocciola. Maggiori tried to grab Spagnoletto to throw him off the horse. He answered this action with a few well-placed lashes. In the meantime, the Casato came closer and closer. Both fantini fell off their horse. Istrice, with Giuseppe Buoni detto Figlio di Bonino, rode in third position and on the finish he came alongside Torre.

The Giuduci proclaimed Istrice the winner. The Torraioli disagreed. A huge fight ensued. The authorities then decided not to pay the Palio and seized the Drappellone. A few days later, when peace had returned to the city, the Palio was handed over to Istrice, still the only legitimate winner for the Giudici.

Ravalry with Lupa

Before the birth of their rivalry (1934), Istrice and Lupa were even deacons or allies. In the early 1930s some banal discussions arose around border areas. A dispute over a few meters could not be resolved. A committee was even set up to find a solution, but this did not work. An enmity was born.

In 1935, Lupa won in July, and Istrice in August, both at Ruello. In the Numeri Unici that were published later that year, cartoons about the other neighborhood were placed in both issues. The young enmity was incited and has since disappeared.

Images
Drappelloni and Numeri Unici

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

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.

Istrice had never :

  1. won a cappotto
  2. won in august when Torre participated
  3. won when they were selected as ,1st, 2nd, 3th or 10th (estrazione)
  4. won from 7th, 8th or rincorsa at the start
  5. won when they were at the start next to Aquila of Onda or Selva
  6. won a july palio when they were drawn together with Aquila or Chiocciola or Civetta or Leocorno or Oca or Onda or Pantera
  7. won an august palio when they were drawn together with Aquila or Bruco or Giraffa or Leocorno or Lupa or Oca or Onda or Pantera or Selva or Tartuca or Torre
  8. won a palio alla romana
  9. won a palio with cavalli scossi
  10. won a palio with Civetta or Leocorno or Pantera or Tartuca  as the rincorsa

Last update : 10 august 2026