The Contrada of the Tortoise (Italian: Contrada della Tartuca) is one of the seventeen historic subdivisions of the Tuscan city of Siena. It takes part in the Palio di Siena.
Territory
The streets at the time of the Notice The Notice of Violante of Bavaria (1730) determines the territorial division of the seventeen Contrade of Siena by reference to the palaces and their owners of the time, thus relying on buildings rather than roads. It is still considered the basic arrangement for determining the actual boundaries of the Contrade. According to the Notice concerning the New Division of Contrade Boundaries, the territory of the Contrada of the Tortoise is bounded by the following streets and palaces:
The scholar Girolamo Gigli thus reported in his Diario Sanese, published posthumously in 1723:
The streets in the present day
The hospice of Santa Lucia no longer exists in the present day. The Ellera street corresponds to what is now Via delle Cerchia; the term Ellera identifies ivy, a plant that grew along the early medieval walls of the street. The present church of St. Augustine (mid-13th century) has been restored and enlarged several times over the centuries; the convent named after the saint houses the "Enea Silvio Piccolomini" classical lyceum and the Tolomei Boarding School.
At the houses of the Fathers of the Rose the Siena Academy of Sciences and the Museum of the History of Science have been located since 1816. The convent, which was originally the home of the Catholic monastic congregation of the Camaldolese Friars of the Rose, has been converted into a university campus. The Porta Tufi (1325–1326) is one of the entrances to the historic center of Siena: it is attributed to the Sienese architect and sculptor Agnolo di Ventura.
The arch of Sant'Agostino was the city gate until 1325; from 1730 (the year of the "Notice"The year in which the "Notice" came into effect is sometimes given as 1729. The confusion is due to the fact that at that time the Sienese calendar "ab Incarnatione Domini" was adopted in Siena, according to which the civil year began on March 25. The "Notice" was promulgated by the ''Balìa'' on January 7, 1730, and published seven days later: considering the Sienese calendar, however, these two dates fell in the year 1729, as indicated in the original document (cf. R. Martinelli, pp. 8–9).) it became the gateway to the present-day Prato di Sant'Agostino, i.e., the tree-lined square bordering the church dedicated to the saint. Via dei Maestri coincides with today's Via Tito Sarrocchi. Via delle Murella, whose toponymy refers to the modest size of the medieval walls of the circle, is now called Via Tommaso Pendola.
The arch of the nuns of Castelvecchio was the arch of the convent of Santa Margherita in Castelvecchio. Via di Castelvecchio has kept its name intact, as has the church of San Pietro; via di Castelvecchino is now the alley of Castelvecchio. Porta all'Arco was originally included in the circle of walls: it was located between today's Via Tommaso Pendola and Via del Casato di Sopra; however, it no longer existed at the time of the publication of the "Notice" in 1730.
The territory of the Contrada of the Tortoise, located entirely within the Terzo di Città, is bounded by the following streets and squares: Streets: delle Cerchia di Castelvecchio Pier Andrea MattioliVia Pier Andrea Mattioli, on both sides as far as Porta Tufi, is part of Tartuca territory. The territory extending out of Porta Tufi is considered to be under the influence of the Contrada. Tito Sarrocchi Tommaso Pendola San Pietro (part of)Only the right side of Via San Pietro, from No. 60 to No. 86, is part of the territory. The rest of the street is divided between Aquila and Pantera. Sant'Agata (part of)Only the section of the street from the Prato di Sant'Agostino to the intersection with Via di Fontanella is included in Tartuca territory. The rest of the street is in Onda territory. Alleys: di Castelvecchio del Saltarello della Tartuca Squares: Prato di Sant'AgostinoThe Prato di Sant'Agostino (St. Augustine's Lawn) is in front of the former St. Augustine's Convent with its adjoining vegetable gardens, later named "Orti del Tolomei." Silvio GigliPiazzetta Silvio Gigli was named after the journalist and Tortoise member from Siena in 2004. The Tartuca is bordered by: Aquila: to the north, along Via San Pietro; Chiocciola: to the west, along Via delle Cerchia, Via Sarrocchi and Via Pendola; Onda: to the east, along Via San Pietro, Via Sant'Agata and the beginning of Via di Fontanella; Pantera: to the northwest, along Via di Castelvecchio.
Places of the Contrada
Headquarters The Contrada headquarters is located at St. Anthony of Padua Church on Tommaso Pendola Street, formerly Murella Street; it has been in the same place since 1684.
OratoryThe church in Contrada is called the Oratory. The officiating of the Oratory is entrusted to a priest, who has the title "Corrector"(cfr.:). One example is the Scolopian Tommaso Pendola, who was a "Corrector" during the 19th century. The Contrada church coincides with the headquarters; it is in fact the Oratory of St. Anthony of Padua, called by the Contrada members the Oratory of St. Anthony of Padua alle Murella, dedicated to the Contrada's patron saint, Anthony of Padua. The history of the oratory dates back to the second half of the 17th century, when the Tortoise Contrada members bought an old house owned by the friars of the Order of St. Augustine. It was on the foundations of that house that the new church was built, in the Baroque style. The design and construction work was taken care of almost exclusively by the Tortoise Contrada members: the designer was Niccolò Franchini, later PriorThe Prior of a Siena Contrada is the one who manages the administrative life of the Contrada throughout the year, decides together with the councilors on both administrative and leisure initiatives, and represents the Contrada at events. of the Tortoise; his son Jacomo was the architect; Giovan Antonio Mazzuoli was the sculptor who made the high altar; the various construction, masonry, and stucco work was taken care of by the Contrada members themselves. The first feast dedicated to the patron saint of the Contrada was celebrated in the church as early as 1682. The "Titular Feast"Every year, on the occasion of the feast of the patron saint, each Contrada of Siena celebrates its "Titular Feast" at the oratory and in the ward. The "Titular Feast" is celebrated in a solemn manner according to a precise calendar of events. On the eve of the event, there is a "Solemn Matins," a religious service celebrated by the Contrada priest (the "Correttore") at the end of which the faithful kiss the relic of the Patron Saint. In the ward, illuminated and festively decorated, the popular feast then begins. On the day of the Feast, the "Giro" is organized: a hundred costumed standard bearers and drummers march through the streets of the city, paying homage with a flag-waving to their members and the allied Contrade. A "baptism of the Contrada members" is also organized during the Feast Day. For more on the Titular Feast: of the Contrada of the Tortoise is celebrated annually on June 13, the day on which St. Anthony is remembered.
Museum The Contrada Museum Complex is located attached to the Oratory on Tommaso Pendola Street. The museum is divided into three sections: the "Museum of Sacred Furniture," which preserves sacred furnishings belonging to the church; the "Costume Museum" and the "Palio Museum." In the section devoted to victories, the drapes won by the Contrada are preserved; in the section devoted to costume, the monture (i.e., historical costumes of Risorgimento inspiration) worn by the participants in the historical procession are preserved. Also preserved here are the masgalani, including one in chiseled and embossed silver dated 1676, depicting the Rape of Europa. Baptismal Fountain The fountain is dated 1951 and is the work of sculptor Bruno Buracchini. At the fountain takes place the "baptism of the contrada members," similar to all the other Contrade of Siena: a secular baptism, which aims to "sacralize" perpetual membership in one's Contrada.The "baptism of the Contrada members" was first adopted by the Contrada of the Chiocciola in 1949; the rite consists of sprinkling the future Contrada member with water flowing from the fountain existing in the Contrada's own territory (cfr.: ).A. Savelli, p. 308. The originator of the "baptism" was a famous Tortoise Contrada member: journalist and radio host Silvio Gigli.
Contrada SocietyEstablished during the second half of the 19th century, the Contrada Societies are associations that came into being with the aim of strengthening the bonds between Contrada members by promoting recreational, cultural and sporting activities. They now represent a meeting point and gathering place especially for those Contrada members who, in the vast majority, no longer live in the district (cfr.:). Officially named "Castelsenio Mutual Aid Society," it has its headquarters on Via Mattioli. Officially formed in 1887, it links its name to the legend of Senio, founder of Siena. Established with the intention of supporting the poorest and financing Palio-related expenses, the Society was originally located at 25 Via Castelvecchio. Over the following years, the headquarters moved first to 13 Via dei Maestri and then to 30; the current location is in Piazzetta Silvio Gigli, along Via Mattioli The "Castelsenio Mutual Aid Society" is the only one among the Contrada Societies to keep the reference to Mutual Aid in its name. Stable The stable where the horse is cared for on the days of the Palio di Siena is located at the alley of the Tortoise, at number 9.
Origins
Although there is no absolute certainty about the exact historical origins of the Contrade of Siena, it is nonetheless known that the Contrada of the Tortoise was born within the so-called "contrata di Castelvecchio," the oldest part of the city of Siena, of probable Etruscan origins.
It is established that as early as the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the inhabitants of the Castelvecchio area used to gather to participate in the Piazza del Campo Campo in "bull hunts" and "bufalate", forerunner spectacles of the Palio di Siena run with horses. The Contrada's insignia was yellow and black, and bore the image of a tortoise.
Apparently, the Tartuca originated in 1516, from the union of the military Companies of "Porta all'Arco" and "Sant'Agata." These Companies were wards of the Civic Guard, organized on a territorial basis, and one was created in each district of Siena. They were a form of Contrada military corps, and all male Contrada members from eighteen to seventy years of age were members. The first historical source within the Contrada of the TortoiseThe first historical document published by the Contrada of the Tortoise is dated 1818, and is entitled: Memoria istorico – cronologia della Tartuca published on the occasion of the solemn consecration of the Church of said Contrada. It provides some historical information on the origins of the Contrada. Cfr.: cites 1516 as the year of origin:
There is no documentary evidence to confirm the authenticity of the account, however, it appears confirmed that the Contrada of the Tortoise was definitely born before the fall of the Republic of Siena (1555). Riportato in: The name of the Tortoise first appears in an official document in 1560, in which it is requested that:
By contrast, the Contrada does not appear to be mentioned in the original of a letter from a certain "Cecchino Cartaio" dated August 15, 1546, addressed to Madonna Gentile Tantucci, in which a "bull hunt" disputed in the Piazza del Campo is minutely described; the reference to the Tartuca appeared in a reprint of the letter in 1582.