A snail, from an ancient symbol in use among the Etruscans living in the area, afterward used to decorate the carts during the buffalo games.
A silver badge with a crawling snail, at the centre and around studded with the letters U and M (For Umberto I and Margherita of Savoy, privilege granted during their stay in Siena in 1887) alternated with red roses.
Red and yellow flag bordered in light blue.
With a slow and serious step, the snail takes to the field to win the battle.
Caution.
Tanners
8
Saints Peter and Paul Apostles (June, 29th)
CittÃ
"San Marco" (St. Mark) - 77, Via S. Marco.
Via San Marco, 31
via San Marco, 62
It was built upon the foundation of the 14th century Monastery of the St Paul's nuns, from a project by Flaminio del Turco and given to the Contrada in 1814.
The acquisition of an identifiable seat with its own church was one of the first objectives of the Contrade and the most numerous and economically sound ones made it their own.
La Chiocciola built his in 1656 and was dedicated to the Madonna del Rosario on the initiative of the carpenter Salvatore Biagio Scala, then Prior of the Contrada. This, previously, was the place where the Contradaioli had gathered and was (as it still is) in front of the public well where the road that goes up via San Marco forms a crossroads.
On this occasion, the Statute "of the Church and of the Contrada" was issued and then issued in 1663. In this statute the guidelines for the correct management of the sacred place were established. Precious tool because, being the oldest present in the city, it allows you to understand how the Contrada had come to be structured.
The facade of the church, used since 1962 as a "horse house" for the barbero assigned to the Palii, is a fine example of Baroque art. The drawing is attributed to Pietro d'Austo Montini or Jacomo Franchini.
The sacred image on the same facade is the "Madonna of the pitchfork", dating back to 1373 and is much revered by the people of the Contrada. Confirmation is also given by the fact that the snails destined the proceeds of the prize won in the Palio of 2 July 1722 (a silver basin worth one hundred thalers) to the restoration of the church inaugurated three years later.
The well in front of it was built by Cardinal Francesco Petrucci in 1522. In 1820 the church (ex Oratorio della Contrada) was forbidden to worship but it was decided not to spoil its beautiful facade.
Since April 1814 the Oratory has been at the headquarters of the Contrada; it is named after Saints Peter and Paul and was built in the 17th century on a design by Flaminio del Turco. The facade was completed in 1678; the lantern of the dome was rebuilt in 1818 on a project by Agostino Fantastici after the terrible earthquake of 1798 had brought down the previous one.
The construction was decided by the nuns of the Convent of San Paolo in 1609; it was undertaken five years later and ended only in 1645 with the construction of the dome, but already in 1622 it was officiated there.
In the State Archives there is the "Book of the changes of the Monastery" which states that "in this book all the expenses that will be made for the factory of the new church will be written, at the time of our Abbess Mother Sister Eufrasia Piccolonini".
The church has two bodies: one on Via San Marco and the other on Via delle Sperandie, connected via an overpass. In front of the church entrance there is a wrought iron gate forged in 1711 when the aforementioned overpass was installed.
The interior of the oratory has a Greek cross according to the classical canons of Flaminio. The most important work is that above the high altar; it is a large painting by Andrea Piccinelli known as Andrea del Brescianino and depicts the "Coronation of the Virgin between Saints Augustine, Paul, Catherine of Alexandria, John the Baptist, Peter, Galgano and Girolamo".
On the altar on the left side a canvas by Astolfo Petrazzi with the "Saint Paul conversion". Ventura Salimbeni is attributed with a "Santa Francesca Romana". On the right side the "Madonna del Rosario" of unknown of the XIV - XV century.
Everything is dominated by the organ commissioned in 1835 to Giacinto del Guarda from Novara for the sum of 300 scudi, which replaced what in 1814 the Contrada obtained from the Archbishop, as it was first part of the suppressed convent of the Converted, with the consent of the parish priest of San Quirico to whom he had been assigned.
The "choir" that surrounds the organ, as well as many of the stuccos that decorate the church, were made on the design of Giovan Antonio Mazzuoli, born in 1639 and son of Dionisio, master builder of the prestigious factory of the Cathedral of Siena.
Previous oratories:
- Madonna del Rosario (from 1656 to 1813).
Work by the sculptor Fulvio Corsini, the first to be placed in 1947. Upon the basement a good omen writing is carved: "When victory smiles on us, this fountain will pour good wine". It is located in front of the quarter oratory.