The Imperial Contrada of the Giraffe
Posted on 06. Oct, 2010 by admin in Archive, Culture
The Contrada of the Giraffe vaunts the name of Imperial after winning the Palio of 2 July 1936, by a decree issued by Victor Emanuele III of Savoia.
The first mention of the Contrada was from the description of the Gioco della Pugna (an ancient type of boxing tournament) of 1424 described in the writings of Gentile Sermini.
Together with the Contrada della Chiocciola, the Giraffe also participated in the bull-baiting tournament in the Palio della Maddalena around 1489. There are some historical sources which date the constitution of the headquarters of the Contrada as the year 1686.
In 1824 the Chiesa del Suffragio was dedicated as the Oratory of the Contrada and where the effigy of the Madonna del Fosso is kept and revered by the inhabitants of the Contrada. The baptismal font by Salvatore Bocci can be found in the Piazzetta della Giraffa.
A curiosity is that the number three is traditionally considered lucky in the Contrada. The Contrada has received a record number of three cappotti (victory in both Palios). The first in 1807 in July with Batto and in August with Mattio. The second in 1897 both with the same horse Febo, in July with Scansino and in August with Massimino. The third in 1997, planned by the Captain of the Contrada, Fabio Caselli with the July victory by Il Pesse on the magnificent mount Penna Bianca and in August on Quarnero.
What will happen in 2097? Only time will tell…….
Again the number three is present in the history of the Contrada di Provenzano which has three titles conquered in special moments in the history of Italy. The Contrada della Giraffe is defined “royal” for having won the Palio in July 1887 in the presence of King Umberto I and Margherita of Savoia. It is defined “imperial” for having won in 1936 in the presence of King Victor Emanuele III and Queen Elena. It is also defined “republican” for the victory of the 16 August 1946, in the presence of the Provisional Head of the Italian Republic Enrico de Nicola.
Since 1946 the full title of the Contrada is “Royal, Imperial and Republican”. A curious anecdote echoes in the minds of the members of this Contrada when the Drappellone painted by Bruno Marzo was stolen on the night before the Palio of the 24 September 1967 organised to honour the Congress of the Italian Society for Scientific Advancement.
The Contrada decided to display the draft painting on the ceremonial carriage and the Giraffe went on to win the Palio. It was later discovered that some visitors from Bologna visiting Siena has stolen the Drappellone as a prank. Today, both the original and the copy of the Drappellone are displayed in the museum of the Contrada.
The motto of the Contrada is “Più alta è la testa, più grande la gloria” (Higher is the head, greater is the glory). The coat of arms shows a giraffe carried by a Moor in Arabian costume with above a blue band with the writing “Umbertus I dedit”.
The colours of the Contrada are white and red which represent elegance. The Imperiale Contrada della Giraffe has no rivals even if recently some heated debate and contrast has existed with the Contrada del Bruco. The Contrada has three allies: Civetta, Istrice, Pantera.
The classical passionate character of the Contrada della Giraffa was Oreste Vannini, also known as “Bellocchio”. Enamoured by his Contrada, he wore red and white pom-poms instead of a tie and a carnation of the same colours in his buttonhole.
Official website of the contrada: www.contradadellagiraffa.it
