The Contrada della Torre occupies the Salicotto quarter, in the Terzo di San Martino. Its emblem is a crowned elephant bearing a tower topped with a red-and-white pennant — an image of strength, carried in the motto Oltre la forza, la potenza. Its colours are crimson red with white and blue.
Identity
The Torre lies in the Terzo di San Martino; its società is the Società Elefante, and its rival is the Oca. (The Onda regards the Torre as its enemy, but the Torre does not reciprocate.)
Patrons and feast
The contrada's patrons are St James the Greater and St Anne (San Giacomo Maggiore e Sant'Anna). Liturgical feast: 25 July. Festa Titolare: the last Sunday of July. Annual programme: published each year. The contrada's church is the Oratorio di San Giacomo Maggiore, on Via di Salicotto, begun in 1531 and completed in 1536, and co-dedicated to Sant'Anna.
Museum and what to see
The Museo della Contrada della Torre, at Via di Salicotto 76, is built over a 1st-century Roman cistern and incorporates traces of the 13th-century walls and a Renaissance grain pit; among its works is Sodoma's Andata di Cristo al Calvario (1546), and its Salone delle Vittorie holds banners from 1767 onward. Visits are available by reservation or during announced special openings.
Practical information
Terzo — San Martino. Church — Oratorio di San Giacomo Maggiore (Via di Salicotto). Società — Società Elefante (Via di Salicotto 76). Rival — Oca. Official site — contradadellatorre.it.