On our recent trip to Siena Italy, we were far from simply tourists. We were guests of a dear friend. Franco not only invited us into his home, but into his family -the Contrada of Civetta. There are not many tourists who have the opportunity to witness the true essence of the Palio as we did. As it was explained to us, the contrada can exist without the Palio but the Palio cannot exist without the contrada. The nights leading up to the Palio were legendary. Long tables filled with food stretched (what seemed) for miles down the narrow streets of Civetta. Flags with the "little owl" hung over head and swayed with the wind. Underneath the Tuscan night sky the sound of passionate singing echoed throughout all of Siena. The small but proud Civetta (and two lucky Americans) drank and sang and ate and drank and sang and ate and sang and drank and played soccer and laughed and hugged and drank and sang and kissed and drank and loved and loved and were proud until the sun began to peek from behind the darkness. This was the experience of a life time. All of this bonding and welcoming of us (the strangers) was not for show. It was an extension of what it means to be a part of the contrada...a member of the family...baptised into fold.

This was the week of the Palio and all that it means to be from Civetta or Tartuca or Drago would be on display for the world to see. The world again would know just as it has since 1656 (and before) that Siena was a distinct place -a place where history would not be lost...where identity would be paramount. This is what it is all about.

...and as the world watched and anticipated and prepared for what was to come tomorrow, tragedy struck.

...to find out what happened and to see more photos please visit our blog

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