Siena’s Contrade: The Contrada of the Chiocciola (Snail)
Posted on 16. Aug, 2010 by admin in Archive, Culture, Events
The first Contrada to be cited in history and still today bears its original name is the Chiocciola (Snail), named by the Sienese storyteller Gentile Sermini when describing the game of “punga” (an old form of boxing) in the XV century. The characteristic silver coat of arms of the Contrada incorporates a snail against a white background and surrounded by the initials U and M in blue (Umberto I and Margherita di Savoia) who conferred this privilege after a visit by the Royal Family in 1887. The colours of the Contrada are yellow and red with turquoise stripes.
The snail symbol was also used by the Etruscans who lived in this area and was adopted when preparing a ceremonial float for the traditional processions or ‘bufalate’. The baptismal font was constructed by Fulvio Corsini and was the first to be installed in the city in 1947. On its base is the following inscription: “when the Snail wins, from this font will flow good wine”. The font can be found directly in front of the Oratory of the Contrada.
The Snail symbolises prudence which is fervently declared in the motto of the Contrada: “With slow and grave paces, the Chiocciola descends into the square to victory!”.
The Contrada extends from Porta S. Marco, towards the Archway of Via dei Maestri (now called Arco di Santa Lucia) and up to via S. Quirico to descend towards via Stalloreggi. The traditional main centres of the Contrada were the Oratories.
For a long time, the Oratory of the Contrada of the Chiocciola was located in its own building but the Prior Salvatore Biagio, asked that a church be erected near the Pozzo di S. Marco (well of St. Mark) dating from 1522. The Chiocciola could finally have its new Oratory and in 1657, works for the construction of a chapel dedicated the Virgin of the Holy Rosary (Vergine del Santissimo Rosario) commenced.
Among the wonderful works of art to be found in the chapel is a wonderful painting of the Madonna del Rosario. There is a popular anecdote regarding the donation of this work to the chapel. A woman from the Contrada when moving house forgot this painting above her mantelpiece. When the woman returned to her home to pick up some other things that she had forgotten, she heard a voice which said: “Oh! Do you want to leave me here? Why don’t you take me with you?”.
The startled woman ran out into the street to tell her neighbours about the miracle which had just happened! Immediately the co-rector of the Contrada was informed and the image was taken to the Chapel where it was declared patron and protector of the Contrada.
In the Sala delle Vittorie of the Chapel we can also find popular images of life in the Contrada and a ceramic effigy of St. Anthony the Abbot (Patron saint of animals). The story tells that this was thrown into the well of St. Mark in 1896 by an inhabitant of the Contrada after a defeat in the Palio; he accused St. Mark of not offering his assistance to defeat the rival Contrada Tartuca, the winner of Palio dell’Assunta 2010.
Only in 1910 was the effigy recuperated and its recovery represented the reconciliation of St. Anthony with the Contrada, further confirmed by the victory of the Chiocciola the following year.
Official Website of Contrada la Chiocciola: www.contradadellachiocciola.it
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