Fortezza Medicea in Siena - flag - The Sovereign Porcupine District (Istrice)

Our coach dropped us off near the Fortezza Medicea in the car park, and we proceeded to walk into the UNESCO World Heritate site of Siena City Centre.

On the day we went, they were preparing for the annual horse race on the 2nd July 2018 (we were there on the 29th June 2018 so several days before that).

Fortezza Medicea (Siena)

Siena’s Fortezza Medicea (the Medici Fortress sometimes called the Fort of Saint Barbara) is a fort built in the city between 1561 and 1563 on the orders of Duke Cosimo, a few years before he became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The fortress is positioned on the northern edge of the central Siena in the Terzo of Camollia, in the neighborhood of San Prospero, and since 1923 has overlooked the city’s Artemio Franchi /Montepaschi Arena.

Construction of the fortress followed the Battle of Marciano which in 1554 marked the final defeat of Siena by its long-standing rival, Florence. It was located on the site of a previous fort, known as the Cittadella/Citadel, which had been built in 1548 on the orders of the Emperor Charles V after the city came under the control of Spain, subjected to the authority of the Spanish ambassador, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza.

On 26 July 1552 the Sienese rose up against the Spanish, expelling them from the city and destroying the Citadel/Cittadella.

Slightly less than three years later, on 21 April 1555, after more than a year under siege by Spanish and Tuscan troops, the city surrendered. The Republic of Siena, supported by its French allies, continued to defy the Spanish from Montalcino, but the city of Siena itself was now back under Spanish control. Four years later, in April 1559, the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis was signed between France and Spain. This left the Republic of Siena without allies and led to total surrender. The city fell under the control of Spain’s regional ally, the Florentine Duke Cosimo.

In order to prevent any attempt by the Sienese to recover their independence, Cosimo ordered the construction of the present fortress on the site of the earlier Spanish Citadel. The project was entrusted to Cosimo’s celebrated Urbino born architect, Baldassarre Lanci who had started his career as a military engineer. Construction commenced in 1561 and was completed just two years later in 1563.

The fortress was demilitarized only at the end of the eighteenth century, at which point it became part of the city’s public life. In 1937, following a major restoration, the fortress was transformed into its present condition as a public park. It houses an Enoteca (a commercial center focused on the local wine industry) and frequently hosts art exhibitions. It is also used for festivals and concerts and is home to the Siena Jazz foundation.

Originally built on an “L” shaped footprint, the fortress was subsequently transformed into its current rectangular form. On each of the four corners is an imposing brick built rampart, and on three of these the Medici coat of arms stands above the head of a lion. On the fourth, south facing corner, however, there is only the head of a lion.

The fortress is a substantial structure, with internal dimensions of approximately 180 by 125 meters and external dimensions of about 270 by 200 meters. If the outer wall is included, the structure has an external perimeter of approximately 1,500 meters.

The entrance is on the north-east side, facing Florence, and now close to the Giardini della Lizza / Lizza Gardens. On the inside the hugely wide walls are topped with broad paths, lined with trees and benches. Within the walls a permanent theatre shaped structure has now been created in order to support the public role of the fortress.

On the outside, the fortress is positioned between the city’s stadium and the Lizza Gardens. On the south-east side, which faces the city, a statue of the city’s saint, Catherine of Siena, has recently been erected.

flag - The Sovereign Porcupine District (Istrice)

The first of many flags I saw that day for the Contrade of Siena.

Istrice (Crested Porcupine)

Istrice occupies the north-westernmost edge of Siena and contains the San Vincenzo e Anastasio church, home of the city's oldest surviving fresco and burial place of Pinturicchio. Traditionally, its residents were blacksmiths.

Istrice's symbol is a porcupine. Its colours are red, white, blue and black. Istrice adversary Contrada is the "Lupa" (She-wolf). Allied Contradas are "Bruco", "Chiocciola", "Civetta" and "Giraffa".

Its motto is: "Sol per difesa io pungo" (I prick only for self-defense).

Istrice has the title of Contrada Sovrana (Sovereign Contrada). It was bestowed this title by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta as a result of it headquartering the order during the 14th century. The Templars Mansion is located in its territory in Via Malta.

Istrice last won the Palio in July 2008.

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Taken in: Italia / Toscana / Siena (show map)

Taken on: June 29, 2018

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Siena

Italy

Tuscany

Toscana

province of Siena

UNESCO

UNESCO World Heritage Site

World Heritage Site

historic centre of Siena

Tuscan hill town

Etruscans

Saina

Saena Julia

Senones

Senius and Aschius

two sons of Remus

nephews of Romulus

Republic of Siena

Fortezza Medicea

Viale Guglielmo Marconi

Forteresse Medicea

Fortezza Medicea (Siena)

Medici Fortress

Fort of Saint Barbara

Terzo of Camollia

San Prospero

Artemio Franchi /Montepaschi Arena

Battle of Marciano

Emperor Charles V

flag

Viale Vittorio Veneto

Viale V. Veneto

The Sovereign Porcupine District (Istrice)

Contrade of Siena

Contrade di Siena

Istrice (Crested Porcupine)

Istrice

porcupine

colours are red, white, blue and black

Contrada Sovrana

Sovereign Contrada

Sovereign Military Order of Malta « less

Sets appears in: • Contrade of Siena • Fortezza Medicea, Siena more » • Siena « less

Groups appears in: • Fortresses, forts & fortifications of the World (photo guide) • Bandiere (Flags) more » • Forts-Fortresses-Kremlins-Schloss-Castles & Strongholds • Property protected by UNESCO around the world • fortified villages , towns and cities of britain • World Flags « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ72, f/4.2, 1/800 sec, 11.2mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ72
Aperture:	f/4.2
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length:	11.2mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.0
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