Team Onda

As well as its cathedral, Siena is famous for the Palio horse race, which takes place twice per year in July and August. The race comprises three laps of the famous (and quite small for a horse race, it seemed to me) Piazza del Campo, and usually lasts around 90 seconds.

The Palazzo Pubblico with the Torre del Mangia

The square is a popular place to hang out, day and night

I wasn't particularly upset to miss out on seeing the Palio - I'm sure it's fun, but it also sounds like a bit of an overcrowded nightmare. What I didn't realise though, was that we still managed to turn up on a bit of a special weekend for Siena, or at least for one part of the city.

The Palio is disputed between the different districts, or contrade, of the city. There are 17, with pretty cool names and emblems - eagle, caterpillar, snail, owl, dragon, giraffe, porcupine, unicorn, wolf, ram, nicchio (whatever that is?), goose, panther, forest, tower, turtle and wave. We happened to be staying in the wave, or Onda district. And it just so happened that Onda were victorious in the 2017 palio, and they were celebrating their victory the weekend we were there, with the streets liberally festooned with their dolphin symbol. Although we saw some signs of the other contrade, they weren't nearly as visible as Onda, so I'm not sure whether they went over the top to mark the victory or whether they just have more Onda pride year-round. Either way, we are now Team Onda 4 lyfe.

It's pretty cool to see a tradition like this, with medieval origins, still going and still such a part of people's identities. We saw different city districts with names and symbols in other parts of Italy too, but it seems no-one takes them quite as seriously as the Sienese!

A dolphin Onda fountain

Friday night celebrations in Onda town

Onda torches and flags leading in to the Piazza del Campo

Another piggy friend

A faithful dog beneath the bough, a glass of wine and thou