It seems that this emblem is directly rived from the noble Marescotti family who had a "Castellare" (fortified house) and a house with a tower on this territory, the two-headed eagle used as an emblem by my nations and empires, appeared for the : first time on the decoration of a Buddist temple in Taxila in IIth century A.D.".
Several cavalries have used this ensign: Germany - the Black Eagle (1701) and the Red Eagle (1705); Poland, Russia and Serbia - the White Eagle in 1325, 1815 and 1882 respectively; Wuttemberg - the Golden Eagle (1702). The Order of the Estense Eagle (1855) and the Mexican Eagle (1865) have also existed. The Dukes of Baveria, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the Kings of Spain, the Emperor Napoleon and the Emperor of Germany all used the Eagle in their emblems. In Italy, it was originally a sign of imperial concession then it represented the Ghibelline Party and by the concession of Clement IV, it also became the symbol of the Guelfs.
During the French occupation (1799 and 1807-1813) the Contrada changed its emblem to the Napoleonic one. In 1847, year of the Constitution of the Civil Guard, the Contrada adopted an emblem which had a red background with a white castle in the centre surmounted by a crowned eagle. From 1915 to 1919 a Roman eagle was adopted in place of the two-headed eagle and in 1919 the Contrada returned to its own historical heraldic emblem.
This Contrada is particularly renowned for the celebrations and processions which it organized in the XVIth century. On 24th April 1536, it was awarded "motu proprio", the title of "nobile" (noble) by the then friend of Siena, Emperor Charles V of Hapsburg, for the reception he received. It put on a magnificent show for the "caccia ai tori" (bull-hunt) which look place on 15th August 1546. It is said that during that night they went around the town on horseback wearing grandiose costumes and carrying many torches. Some of them sang all over the town to the great pleasure of those listening. They sang to the beat of the head-huntsman's brocade umbrella. The words of their song rang out: "We go round the world singing at the top of our voices, a beautiful name - Aquila! Aquila! shouted loud and clear".
Its Seat is in via del Casato di Sotto and its Patron Saint is the Virgin under the title "Nome di Maria Santissima". In the Oratory various works of art by XVIth century painters and an XIth century Byzantine table are preserved. In the Church there is a bronze bas-relief which was donated to the Contrada in 1963 by the town of L'Aquila (an Italian town in Abruzzo) with which it is "twinned". A great international ceremony took place in La Valletta in 1967 when Malta was "twinned" with this Contrada.
In 1969 it was decreed an "Ente Morale" of Canon Law (article 99).
The Marescotti, Manetti, Colombini and Forteguerri families had fortified houses on this territory.