Home - Contrade - Oca

Nobile Contrada dell'Oca

Email info@contradadelloca.itTel 348 6918638

Vicolo del Tiratoio, 9

Visita il sito

Guardian of the spirit of Saint Catherine and proud of its record as the most victorious contrada in history, the Nobile Contrada dell'Oca embodies the value of astuteness. A journey into the heart of Fontebranda, where the green, white, and red colors celebrate an epic of triumphs and an unbreakable bond with the soul of Siena.

GENERAL INFORMATION

HEADQUARTERS: Vicolo del Tiratoio, 9 - Terzo di Camollia

SOCIETY: "Trieste" - Via Santa Caterina, 57

NAME OF THE CONTRADA MEMBERS: Ocaioli

SLOGAN: "Clangit ad Arma - Call to arms"

COAT OF ARMS: gold, with anatural goose standing on a grassy clod, topped by a royal crown, collared by a blue ribbon with the pendant of a silver Savoy cross, charged with another small cross of the same, bordered in red.

COLORS: green striped or arabesqued with white and red

SYMBOLIZES: foresight

PLACES AND REFERENCES

CHURCH AND ORATORY: Oratory of Santa Caterina in Fontebranda

PATRON AND PATRON SAINT'S FESTIVAL: Saint Catherine of Siena - April 29

MUSEUM: Via della Galluzza, 39

FONTANINA: The contrada baptism takes place at the Sources of Fontebranda (12th-13th century), on the eponymous street.

RELATIONS AND ORGANIZATION

RELATIONS WITH OTHER CONTRADE:
allies none
enemies Torre

CORPORATIONS: Dyers

MILITARY COMPANIES: Saint Anthony, Saint Pellegrino

HISTORY OF THE CONTRADA DELL'OCA

The territory of the Contrada dell'Oca is linked to one of the most illustrious names in Christian history: it is the birthplace of Saint Catherine of Siena, patroness of the Contrada and a spiritual reference for the entire community. A primacy that the Contrada shares with few other places in the world.

On the palio front, the Oca holds an absolute record among the seventeen contrade: it is currently the most victorious contrada of the Palio di Siena.

PALII AND RESULTS

WON PALII: 65

PARTICULARITIES

TITLE: it holds the title of "Noble" with Resolution of the Civic Magistracy of March 23, 1846, linked to important events in the city's history: for the valor of its ranks in the battle of Montaperti in 1260; in the battle of Camollia in 1526, when together with the troops of Istrice they surprised the papal and Florentine troops, forcing them to a hasty flight; for the valor shown throughout the Siena War (1552-1555) against the armies of Charles V of Spain and Cosimo de' Medici.

TWINNING: Trieste

CURIOSITIES
"Palio della Luna" (1969): painted by Mario Bucci ("Mars") to celebrate the moon landing. An avant-garde work that mixes painting, graphics, and photography. Depicts the pairing Aceto-Topolone, which won that race for the Oca.
Surprise Palii (1909 and 1919): unique in history, both won by the Oca. They involved the drawing of contrade, horses, and jockeys on the morning of the race itself. Lacking the traditional Marian iconography.
Ernesto Treccani (1977) and Jean-Michel Folon (1999).
The "Double" Palio (2007): created by Alessandro Grazi, painted on both sides. The victory was initially contested due to a photo finish between the Oca and the Nicchio.