The 17 Contrade of Siena: Full Guide

Q: Which contrade are rivals at the Palio?

Every contrada has at least one declared rival (nemica), with the exception of Bruco, Drago, Giraffa, and Selva. Most rivalries are mutual, but the Comune di Siena records one exception: Onda–Torre is unilateral — the Onda considers the Torre its enemy, but the Torre does not reciprocate (the Torre's own recognised rival is the Oca). The most intense rivalries are generally those between neighbouring contrade.

Published: sienatoscana.it | Category: Siena Insider | Estimated read: 16 minutes

Every person born in Siena is born into a contrada. Not chosen into it. Born into it. The territory determines the membership — whichever of the city’s seventeen historic districts surrounds the building where you first draw breath is the contrada that will define a significant part of how you live, who you celebrate with, who you mourn with, and — twice a year, in the Piazza del Campo — what you desperately, sometimes painfully, want.

The contrade's two afternoons in the Campo are covered in the Palio guide; the city they belong to, in the complete Siena guide.

This is not metaphor. It is the lived reality of Siena — a city that has organised itself around these seventeen urban parishes since the Middle Ages, and which, in 1729, had their boundaries fixed permanently by the governor Violante Beatrice of Bavaria in an edict that remains in force today. New contrade cannot be created. Existing ones cannot be merged or dissolved. The seventeen districts of 1729 are the seventeen districts of 2026.

Understanding the contrade is understanding Siena. Without them, the Palio is a horse race. With them, it is the most compressed expression of human civic identity anywhere in the Western world.

This guide covers all seventeen contrade — their symbols, colours, histories, rivalries, alliances, and what distinguishes each from the others. It is the reference you need before your first Palio, and the one you will want to return to after it.

The Structure of the Contrada System

Each of the seventeen contrade is an independent community with its own institutions, its own physical territory within the city walls, and its own complete social life. Every contrada maintains:

A church or oratory — the spiritual centre of the district, where the benedizione del cavallo (blessing of the horse and jockey) takes place on race day.

A museum — housing the pallii (the silk banners won at previous races), historical costumes, racing records, and the accumulated material memory of the contrada’s history. The contrada museums are among the most fascinating and least-visited institutions in Siena. Many are open to the public by appointment.

A fountain and baptismal font — where the battesimo contradaiolo (contrada baptism) takes place. When a child born within a contrada’s territory is baptised in the contrada’s font, they become a full member for life. This ceremony is distinct from the religious baptism; many Sienese receive both.

A società (social club) — the gathering place for contrada members, open for meals, events, and the daily life of the community. These are not tourist venues; they are the beating heart of neighbourhood social life.

A motto, a symbol, and colours — worn on fazzoletti (neck scarves) by members during the Palio and on contrada occasions throughout the year.

A captain and a prior — the captain (capitano) manages the Palio strategy — hiring the fantino, forming alliances, negotiating with rival contrade. The prior (priore) heads the contrada’s civil governance.

The contrade also have allies and rivals — formal relationships, some centuries old, that shape the political dynamics of every Palio. Alliances mean that allied contrade support each other in the race and share in each other’s victories. Rivalries mean the opposite: the nemica (enemy) contrada’s defeat is almost as satisfying as one’s own victory.

Four contrade — Bruco, Drago, Giraffa, and Selva — have no declared rival. Two — Oca and Lupa — have no formal allies.

These relationships are not left to custom alone. A mayoral ordinance of 11 August 2026 requires agreements between contrade to be enforced by their own leaderships and filed with the Deputati della Festa, and forbids offensive chants when a contrada crosses its rival's territory wherever an agreement does not say otherwise. How rivalry is governed sets out what that means during the race itself.

The Four Noble Contrade

Four of the seventeen hold the title Nobile (Noble), awarded for specific acts of military valour:

Aquila — title bestowed by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1536
Bruco — earned in 1369 for bravery against Charles IV, consolidated in 1371 for leading the revolt that reformed the Sienese government
Nicchio — awarded for valour at the Battle of Montaperti (1260) and at Porta Pispini (1527)
Oca — earned through multiple acts of military bravery in defence of the Sienese Republic, including the battles of Montemaggio (1145) and Montaperti (1260)

Four further contrade hold distinct honorary titles: Civetta is Priora (Prior), for hosting the first assembly of the contrade's priors — the body that in 1894 became the Magistrato delle Contrade — beginning in 1873; Giraffa is Imperiale (Imperial), granted by royal decree on 25 May 1939 in recognition of the contrada's victory in the Palio of 2 July 1936, run in celebration of the Empire; Istrice is Sovrana (Sovereign), granted in 1980 by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which had its seat from the 14th century in the rione di Camollia; and Onda is Capitana (Captain), because its soldiers historically mounted guard at the Palazzo Pubblico.

All Seventeen Contrade

The contrade are traditionally listed in three geographic groups — the Terzi (thirds) of the city: Terzo di Città (south-western), Terzo di San Martino (south-eastern), and Terzo di Camollia (northern — the side of the city facing Florence). They are presented here alphabetically for ease of reference, with their Terzo noted.

1. Aquila — Eagle

Terzo di Città | Colours: Yellow with black and blue trim

Symbol: A double-headed black eagle holding an orb, a sword, and a sceptre — the imperial eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. Motto: “Dell’Aquila il rostro, l’ugna e l’ala” (The beak, the claw and the wing of the Eagle). Patron saint: The Holy Name of Mary (Santissimo Nome di Maria), 12 September.

Aquila is one of the four Nobile contrade — a title bestowed directly by the Habsburg Emperor Charles V in 1536, in gratitude for the warm reception he received during his visit to Siena. Its title traces directly to that imperial visit, where the other Noble contrade received theirs by civic decree in the 1840s.

The Aquila museum holds the oldest surviving Palio banner in existence, dating from 1719 — a silk drappellone that predates most records in any other contrada’s collection.

Rival: Pantera (since 1947). Allies: Civetta, Drago. Last Palio win: 3 July 2026 (postponed from 2 July — ending a 34-year wait since 1992).

2. Bruco — Caterpillar

Terzo di Camollia | Colours: Green and yellow with blue trim

Symbol: A crowned caterpillar crawling on a rose. Motto: “Nella pugna sii altera, Nobile Contrada dalla gente fiera” (In the fight be proud, Noble Contrada of the fierce people). Patron saint: The Madonna of the Visitation, 2 July.

Bruco’s Noble title was earned through two acts of civic courage. In 1369, Bruco’s soldiers distinguished themselves in helping to defeat the forces of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. In 1371, Bruco led the popular revolt — the Rivolta dei Brucaioli — that overthrew the ruling oligarchy and established a more representative government for Siena. The caterpillar on the rose, transforming into something greater, is no accident as a symbol for a district that twice changed the course of Sienese history.

Bruco’s longstanding rivalry with neighbouring Giraffa was formally ended in 1996 — one of the rare cases of a historical enmity being officially dissolved.

Rival: None declared. Allies: Istrice, Nicchio, Torre. Last Palio win: 16 August 2008.

3. Chiocciola — Snail

Terzo di Città | Colours: Red and yellow with blue trim

Symbol: A snail. Motto: “Con lento passo e grave nel campo a trionfar Chiocciola scende” (With slow and solemn step the Snail comes down to the Campo to triumph). Patron saint: Saints Peter and Paul (Santi Pietro e Paolo), 29 June.

Chiocciola occupies the south-western corner of the city and holds one of the more vivid pieces of contrada folklore: after the July 1896 Palio — in which Chiocciola led until the third lap, only to be overtaken by Torre at the Casato — a single contradaiolo, Francesco Dominici, known as “Cecco”, took the contrada’s ceramic figure of Sant’Antonio abate, protector of animals, and threw it into the well of San Marco. It lay there fourteen years, until a subscription raised by the women of the contrada drained the well in the winter of 1910 and the piece was restored. Chiocciola's last win before that had been on 2 July 1888; it won again on 2 July 1911, with the fantino Nappa on the horse Stella. In Siena, this story is told without any sense of embarrassment. The Sienese expression “i chiocciolini, affogatori di santi” — the people of the Snail, drowners of saints — is used affectionately and taken as a badge of honour.

Rival: Tartuca (Tortoise) — the defining rivalry of the Terzo di Città. Allies: Istrice, Pantera, Selva. Last Palio win: 16 August 1999.

4. Civetta — Owl

Terzo di San Martino | Colours: Red and black with white bands

Symbol: A crowned owl sitting on a branch. Motto: “Vedo nella notte” (I see in the night). Patron saints: Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Bernardo Tolomei (Sant’Antonio da Padova e San Bernardo Tolomei), 13 June.

Civetta holds a particular place in Palio folklore as the contrada that went longest without a victory in modern times. For many years it was known as the nonna — grandmother — of the Palio, a title given to whichever contrada has gone longest without winning. Civetta held this unwanted distinction until August 2009, when it finally broke the drought. It won again in August 2014. The emotion at a nonna victory is among the most intense the Palio generates — decades of waiting released in ninety seconds.

Rival: Leocorno (since 1960). Allies: Aquila, Giraffa, Istrice, Pantera. Last Palio win: 16 August 2014.

5. Drago — Dragon

Terzo di Camollia | Colours: Pink and green with yellow trim

Symbol: A flying golden dragon carrying a banner bearing the letter “U” (for Umberto I). Motto: “Il cor che m’arde divien fiamma in bocca” (The heart that burns in me becomes flame in my mouth). Patron saint: Saint Catherine of Siena (Santa Caterina da Siena), 29 April; celebrated on the last Sunday of May.

Drago is one of the four contrade with no declared rival — an unusual position in a system built on enmity and alliance. Its territory sits to the north-west of the Campo and it has one of the smaller memberships of the seventeen. Recent years have been kind to it: Drago won the Palio on 2 July 2014, 2 July 2018, and 2 July 2022 — three victories in eight years, a run that has brought it considerable prominence.

Rival: None. Ally: Aquila. Last Palio win: 2 July 2022.

6. Giraffa — Giraffe

Terzo di Camollia | Colours: White and red

Symbol: A giraffe led by a Moorish figure, with a ribbon bearing the inscription “Umbertus I dedit” (Umberto I gave it). Motto: “Altius caput, maior gloria” (The higher the head, the greater the glory). Patron saint: The Visitation of Mary (Visitazione di Maria), first Sunday of June.

Giraffa holds the title of Contrada Imperiale — Imperial Contrada — granted by royal decree of Vittorio Emanuele III on 25 May 1939, in recognition of the contrada's victory in the Palio of 2 July 1936, run in celebration of the Empire. It is a title that carries the complexity of its historical moment, acknowledged as part of the contrada’s record without political commentary.

Giraffa is considered one of the more affluent areas of the city. Its rivalry with neighbouring Bruco — a long and bitter one — was formally dissolved in 1996, leaving Giraffa as one of the four contrade without a declared enemy.

Rival: None (rivalry with Bruco officially ended 1996). Allies: Civetta, Istrice, Pantera. Last Palio win: 2 July 2019.

7. Istrice — Porcupine

Terzo di Camollia | Colours: White with red, black and blue arabesques

Symbol: A porcupine. Motto: “Sol per difesa io pungo” (I prick only for self-defence). Patron saint: Saint Bartholomew (San Bartolomeo), 24 August.

Istrice occupies the north-westernmost edge of Siena and holds the title of Contrada Sovrana — Sovereign Contrada — granted in 1980 by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, whose knights had held their seat in the rione di Camollia from the 14th century.

The district's oratory, Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio, is home to the oldest surviving fresco in Siena — an early-13th-century Christ Blessing.

Rival: Lupa (from the rupture of their alliance in 1932). Allies: Bruco, Chiocciola, Civetta, Giraffa. Last Palio win: 2 July 2008.

8. Leocorno — Unicorn

Terzo di San Martino | Colours: Orange and white with blue trim

Symbol: A rampant unicorn, with the inscription “Humberti regis gratia” (By the grace of King Umberto). Motto: “Fiede e risana al par l’arma ch’ho in fronte” (The weapon on my brow wounds and heals alike). Patron saint: Saint John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista), 24 June.

Leocorno’s name — Leocorno, the medieval Italian for unicorn — reflects the heraldic tradition of the Sienese Republic, which used the unicorn as one of its symbols. The contrada’s territory lies to the east of the Campo in the Terzo di San Martino.

The rivalry with Civetta, formalised in 1960, is one of the younger declared enmities in the system but no less felt for that. Leocorno endured fifteen years between victories — from 2007 to 2022 — before its win at the August 2022 Palio.

Rival: Civetta (since 1960). Allies: Pantera, Tartuca. Last Palio win: 17 August 2022 (postponed from 16 August).

9. Lupa — She-Wolf

Terzo di Camollia | Colours: Black and white with orange trim

Symbol: A she-wolf nursing twin boys. Motto: “Et Urbis et Senarum Signum et Decus” (Sign and honour of both the City of Rome and of Siena). Patron saint: Saint Roch (San Rocco), 16 August.

Lupa’s symbol connects Siena directly to Rome. The she-wolf nursing twins refers to the legend that Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, sons of Remus — the brother of Romulus, who according to Roman myth was raised by the she-wolf. In the Sienese version, Senius and Aschius fled Rome on black and white horses (hence the city’s black and white heraldic colours, the Balzana) and founded Siena. The same she-wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus nursed the founders of Siena. For this reason, Rome and Siena regard each other as sister cities.

Lupa is one of two contrade — along with Oca — that have no formal allies. The rivalry with Istrice grew out of a dispute at the July 1929 Palio and hardened when their long alliance ruptured in 1932; it is one of the more visceral in the city.

The contrada museum’s prize exhibit is a photograph of Giuseppe Garibaldi, which he personally donated to the contrada following its Palio victory in 1867.

Rival: Istrice (from 1932). Allies: None. Last Palio win: 17 August 2024 (postponed from 16 August).

10. Nicchio — Seashell

Terzo di San Martino | Colours: Blue with yellow and red trim

Symbol: A crowned scallop shell flanked by two branches of red coral, with Savoy knots and two roses. Motto: “È il rosso del corallo che m’arde in cor” (It is the red of the coral that burns in my heart). Patron saint: Saint Cajetan of Thiene (San Gaetano da Thiene), 7 August.

Nicchio is one of the four Nobile contrade. It earned its title for two acts of particular military valour: leading the Sienese attack at the Battle of Montaperti against Florence in 1260 — perhaps the most celebrated battle in Sienese history, when Siena defeated Florence against overwhelming odds — and defending Porta Pispini in 1527. An additional honour was granted for the contrada’s role in bringing water to the district in 1469 and to the Fonte dei Pispini in 1531, a feat of civic infrastructure that the Republic formally recognised.

Nicchio occupies the far eastern corner of the city, in the Terzo di San Martino.

Rival: Valdimontone (since 1952). Allies: Bruco, Onda, Tartuca. Last Palio win: 18 August 2026 (ridden by Giovanni Atzeni, Tittia, on Anda e Bola, ending a 28-year wait since 16 August 1998).

11. Oca — Goose

Terzo di Camollia | Colours: Green and white with red trim

Symbol: A crowned goose wearing around its neck a blue ribbon from which hangs the Cross of Savoy. Motto: “Clangit ad arma” (She calls to arms). Patron saint: Saint Catherine of Siena, 29 April (celebrated in May).

Oca is one of the four Nobile contrade, its title earned through multiple acts of military bravery in defence of the Sienese Republic — at Montemaggio in 1145, at Montaperti in 1260, and during the war of Siena from 1552 to 1555. After Montaperti, it was additionally granted the title of governatora (governor). It also earned civic distinction for constructing at its own expense the famous bottini — the underground aqueduct system that still supplies Siena’s fountains — a feat of medieval engineering that continues to function today.

The contrada church and oratory were built between 1464 and 1474 on the ground floor of the house in the Fontebranda area where Saint Catherine of Siena was born in 1347. This makes Oca’s oratory one of the most historically significant in the city. The contrada’s baptismal font is at the Fonti di Fontebranda — the 12th to 13th century fountain on the street of the same name — one of the most beautiful medieval public fountains in Tuscany.

Oca is one of two contrade with no formal allies. Its rivalry with Torre is among the oldest in the system: the first documented clash between the two popoli dates from 26 July 1671. The contrada’s most recent Palio win came on 3 July 2025, the race having been postponed by a day for weather.

Rival: Torre (first documented clash 1671). Allies: None. Last Palio win: 3 July 2025 (postponed from 2 July).

12. Onda — Wave

Terzo di Città | Colours: White and sky blue

Symbol: A dolphin. Motto: “Il colore del cielo, la forza del mare” (The colour of heaven, the force of the sea). Patron saint: The Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Visitazione di Maria Vergine), 2 July.

Onda holds the title of Contrada Capitana (Captain Contrada) because its soldiers historically mounted guard at the Palazzo Pubblico — the seat of the Sienese Republic’s government on the Campo. This gave the contrada a permanent ceremonial precedence over the others in civic events.

Onda is unusual among the contrade in that its territory is traditionally held to reach beyond the city walls. The Republic of Siena's Tyrrhenian coastal defence — its main port was Talamone, near the Argentario promontory — was garrisoned by two military companies, San Salvadore and Casato di Sotto, which later merged into Onda; the contrada's own history traces its territory over Talamone to that garrison duty.

The sculptor Giovanni Duprè — one of the most significant Italian sculptors of the 19th century — was a member of Onda. The contrada’s main street, Via Giovanni Duprè, carries his name.

Onda has been among the most successful contrade in recent Palii: victories on 2 July 2012, 16 August 2013, 16 August 2017, and 4 July 2024. Its rival is the Torre — though, unusually, the Comune records this as a unilateral rivalry: the Onda regards the Torre as its enemy, but the Torre does not reciprocate.

Rival: Torre (unilateral — the Torre does not reciprocate). Allies: Nicchio (the alliance predates 1634), Tartuca (1933), Valdimontone (1781). Last Palio win: 4 July 2024 (postponed from 2 July).

13. Pantera — Panther

Terzo di Città | Colours: Red and sky blue with white bands

Symbol: A rampant panther. Mottoes (the Comune publishes two): “La Pantera ruggì ed il popolo si scosse” (The Panther roared and the people stirred) and “Il mio slancio ogni ostacolo abbatte” (My charge brings down every obstacle). Patron saint: The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (San Giovanni Decollato), 29 August.

Pantera occupies the western edge of the city in the Terzo di Città, bordering Aquila to the south — which explains the rivalry between the two, formalised in 1947. The enmity between Pantera and Aquila is one of the younger formal rivalries in the system but felt with the full intensity of any other.

Pantera is among the most widely allied contrade in the city, with four formal allies — Chiocciola, Civetta, Giraffa, and Leocorno — giving it one of the broader alliance networks.

Rival: Aquila (since 1947). Allies: Chiocciola, Civetta, Giraffa, Leocorno. Last Palio win: 2 July 2006.

14. Selva — Forest

Terzo di Città | Colours: Green and orange with white trim

Symbol: A rhinoceros beneath an oak tree. Motto: “Prima Selvalta in Campo” (Selva first in the Campo). Patron saint: Our Lady of the Assumption (Assunzione della Beata Vergine), 15 August; celebrated on the fourth Sunday of August.

Selva — Forest — is one of the four contrade with no declared rival, making it one of the more peaceable positions in the system, at least formally. Its symbol — a rhinoceros beneath an oak tree — is among the more unusual in the seventeen, drawing on Renaissance-era fascination with exotic animals.

The contrada sits in the Terzo di Città, adjacent to Tartuca to the east and Chiocciola to the west. Its alliance with both Chiocciola and Tartuca gives it a coherent bloc in the southern part of the city.

Rival: None declared. Allies: Chiocciola, Tartuca. Last Palio win: 2 July 2023.

15. Tartuca — Tortoise

Terzo di Città | Colours: Yellow and blue

Symbol: A Greek tortoise with Savoy knots alternating with daisies. Motto: “Forza e costanza albergo” (Force and constancy reside here). Patron saint: Saint Anthony of Padua, 13 June. Headquarters: Via Tommaso Pendola 21, Siena.

Tartuca is one of the most successful contrade in the Palio’s recorded history. Its rivalry with Chiocciola is one of the most keenly felt in the Terzo di Città — the two territories share a boundary, which in Siena is the condition most reliably associated with deep and lasting rivalry.

The Chiocciola–Tartuca rivalry is the one that visitors most often notice in the streets: in the months before the Palio, the boundary between the two territories is marked with graffiti, provocations, and a running exchange of insults that the Sienese regard as entirely normal. During the Palio, supporters of Chiocciola and Tartuca cheer for anyone who defeats the other, often more ardently than they cheer for themselves.

Rival: Chiocciola. Allies: Leocorno, Nicchio, Onda, Selva. Last Palio win: the extraordinary Palio of 20 October 2018, won by a riderless horse (cavallo scosso).

16. Torre — Tower

Terzo di San Martino | Colours: Crimson red with white and blue trim

Symbol: An elephant carrying a tower. Motto: “Oltre la forza, la potenza” (Beyond strength, power). Patron saints: Saint James the Greater and Saint Anne (San Giacomo Maggiore e Sant’Anna), 25 July; celebrated on the last Sunday of July.

Torre occupies territory in the Terzo di San Martino. Its declared rival is the Oca. It also figures in a second, unusual rivalry — the Onda regards the Torre as its enemy, but, uniquely in the system, the Torre does not reciprocate: the Comune di Siena records Onda–Torre as the only unilateral rivalry. So while some accounts describe the Torre as having two enemies, officially it recognises one — the Oca — with the Onda's antagonism running one way.

The elephant carrying a tower — a medieval symbol of strength and stability — gives the contrada one of the more imposing emblems in the system. The Torre museum is among the better-documented and more visited of the seventeen, and the contrada’s society maintains an active calendar of events open to visitors.

Rival: Oca (the Onda regards the Torre as its enemy, but the Torre does not reciprocate — a unilateral rivalry). Ally: Bruco. Last Palio win: 2 July 2015.

17. Valdimontone — Ram

Terzo di San Martino | Colours: Red and yellow with white trim

Symbol: A rampant crowned ram. Motto: “Sotto il mio colpo la muraglia crolla” (Beneath my blow the wall crumbles). Patron saint: Our Lady of Good Counsel (Madonna del Buon Consiglio), 26 April.

Valdimontone — the Ram of the Valley — occupies territory in the Terzo di San Martino in the eastern part of the city. Its rivalry with Nicchio, formalised in 1952, is among the more recent of the declared enmities, though rivalry between neighbours in the eastern Terzo predates its formal recognition.

Valdimontone’s alliance with Onda (since 1781) is one of the older formal alliances in the system, reflecting a long history of cooperation between the two districts that extends well beyond Palio strategy.

Rival: Nicchio (since 1952). Allies: Onda (since 1781). Last Palio win: 16 August 2025.

The Alliance and Rivalry Network: A Summary

The following table presents the formal relationships of all seventeen contrade — useful reading before attending the Palio, when understanding who is cheering for whom (and against whom) transforms the experience considerably.

Contrada	Rival(s)	Allies
Aquila	Pantera	Civetta, Drago
Bruco	None	Istrice, Nicchio, Torre
Chiocciola	Tartuca	Istrice, Pantera, Selva
Civetta	Leocorno	Aquila, Giraffa, Istrice, Pantera
Drago	None	Aquila
Giraffa	None	Civetta, Istrice, Pantera
Istrice	Lupa	Bruco, Chiocciola, Civetta, Giraffa
Leocorno	Civetta	Pantera, Tartuca
Lupa	Istrice	None
Nicchio	Valdimontone	Bruco, Onda, Tartuca
Oca	Torre	None
Onda	Torre	Nicchio, Tartuca, Valdimontone
Pantera	Aquila	Chiocciola, Civetta, Giraffa, Leocorno
Selva	None	Chiocciola, Tartuca
Tartuca	Chiocciola	Leocorno, Nicchio, Onda, Selva
Torre	Oca (Onda→Torre is one-way)	Bruco
Valdimontone	Nicchio	Onda

Visiting the Contrade

The Contrada Museums

Each contrada maintains its own museum, housing the pallii (Palio banners) won across the centuries, jockeys’ costumes, race records, and historical artefacts. These are among the most unexpectedly absorbing institutions in Siena — small, intensely personal collections that convey the emotional weight of the Palio better than any general museum could. Most are open to the public by appointment. Contact details are available through the individual contrada websites (accessible from comune.siena.it).

The Aquila museum holds the oldest surviving palio banner in existence, dated 1719. The Lupa museum’s photograph of Garibaldi is unique. The Oca museum’s connection to the birthplace of Saint Catherine of Siena makes it one of the more historically significant.

Contrada Dinners

In the weeks surrounding the Palio — particularly on the evening of the Prova Generale (the penultimate trial race) — the contrade host large communal dinners in their neighbourhood streets. Long trestle tables, hundreds of members and guests, local wine, and the particular atmosphere of a community united by something that genuinely matters. These dinners are not tourist events; they are private community occasions. However, if you have made contact with a contrada member or been introduced through a local, attending as a guest is among the most memorable experiences Siena offers. Approach the opportunity with deference, dress appropriately, and follow the lead of your hosts.

Contrada Events Throughout the Year

The Palio is the most visible expression of contrada life, but it is far from the only one. The contrade observe their patron saints’ days with processions, masses, and community events. Flag-throwing (sbandieratori) practice sessions take place in local squares throughout the spring — free to watch and extraordinary to see. Drum corps (tamburini) rehearse in contrada territories during the months before the race; the sound of medieval drums rolling through the medieval streets is one of the more distinctive sensory experiences of Siena.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many contrade does Siena have? Siena has exactly seventeen contrade. This number was fixed in 1729 by the governor Violante Beatrice of Bavaria, whose edict (Bando sui confini) defined the current boundaries and prohibited the creation of new contrade or the dissolution of existing ones. The number has remained unchanged since.

How do I know which contrada I belong to? Membership in a contrada is determined by the territory within which you were born — specifically, the building in which you were born. If born within Siena’s walls, you belong to whichever contrada’s territory surrounds your birth address. This cannot be changed. Children of contrada members are baptised in the contrada’s own font — the battesimo contradaiolo — in addition to their religious baptism, confirming their membership.

Which contrade are rivals at the Palio? Every contrada has at least one declared rival (nemica), with the exception of Bruco, Drago, Giraffa, and Selva. Most rivalries are mutual, but the Comune di Siena records one exception: Onda–Torre is unilateral — the Onda considers the Torre its enemy, but the Torre does not reciprocate (the Torre's own recognised rival is the Oca). The most intense rivalries are generally those between neighbouring contrade.

Can tourists visit the contrada museums? Yes, by appointment. Most contrada museums are open to visitors, though operating hours and booking procedures vary. Contact details for each contrada are listed on the Comune di Siena website (comune.siena.it). Several contrade also offer guided visits during the Palio period and on the occasion of their patron saint’s festivals.

Which contrada won the most recent Palio? The Nobile Contrada del Nicchio (Seashell) won the most recent Palio — the Palio dell'Assunta, due 16 August 2026 and postponed by rain twice, run Tuesday 18 August. Giovanni Atzeni, Tittia, rode Anda e Bola to Nicchio's first victory since 1998, ending a 28-year wait and his own thirteenth career win. Before that, Aquila won the Palio di Provenzano of 2 July 2026, postponed under Article 90 to Friday 3 July after rain — Tittia's twelfth win, also on Diodoro, and Aquila's first since 1992. Before that, Oca won on 3 July 2025 and Onda on 4 July 2024.

Do the contrade still function in daily Sienese life? Yes — actively and continuously. The contrade organise events throughout the year, maintain their social clubs, celebrate saints’ days, and manage the full range of community life from birth to death. Every major event in the life of a Sienese person — baptism, marriage, funeral, Palio victory or defeat — is experienced within the contrada. In the 21st century, the contrade remain one of the most functional examples of urban community organisation anywhere in Europe.

Sources: Comune di Siena official contrade pages (comune.siena.it/La-Citta/Palio/Siena-e-il-Palio/Le-17-Contrade), ilpalio.org official Palio reference site, individual contrada official websites as linked from comune.siena.it.

The seventeen in detail

Each contrada has its own church, museum, patron and history. Below, the seventeen are grouped by their terzo, each linking to its dedicated profile page.

Terzo di Città

Terzo di Camollia

Nobile Contrada del Bruco — Caterpillar
Contrada del Drago — Dragon
Imperiale Contrada della Giraffa — Giraffe
Contrada Sovrana dell'Istrice — Porcupine
Contrada della Lupa — She-Wolf
Nobile Contrada dell'Oca — Goose

Terzo di San Martino

Official Resources

Le 17 Contrade — Il Palio di Siena (Comune di Siena) — the city's official Palio site, with a page for each contrada.
Storia della Contrada della Selva (PDF, Italian) — the Selva's own published history.

Each contrada's official website is linked from its profile page above.

The 17 Contrade of Siena