Museo della Contrada del Drago

Museum of the Siena contrada del Drago in the oratory of Santa Caterina del Paradiso: palii won, costumes, old flags and silver masgalani.

Opening hours unknownFree admission

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About the museum

The museum preserves the historical memory of the Contrada del Drago, one of the seventeen contrade of Siena that race in the Palio. It is housed in the oratory of Santa Caterina del Paradiso, a 17th-century building whose reconstruction dates back to the first decades of the 17th century, and in some adjoining rooms. A decree of the Grand Duke at the end of the 18th century assigned the complex to the contrada, which until then had no permanent seat.

The route displays the drappelloni of the palii won, including those of 1724 and of a district palio of 1744, the silver masgalani, old flags, and costumes, both historic and modern, used by the historical parade (comparsa) in the procession.

The little church holds 17th-century Sienese paintings by Francesco Rustici, Raffaello Vanni and Domenico Manetti, as well as a polychrome terracotta bust of the patron saint by Lorenzo Marrina, dated 1517. In the sacristy is a wooden crucifix from the 15th century.

Highlights

Palii won by the contrada, including the one of 1724
Silver masgalani, old flags and costumes
17th-century paintings by Rustici, Vanni and Manetti in the oratory
Polychrome terracotta bust of Saint Catherine by Lorenzo Marrina (1517)
15th-century wooden crucifix in the sacristy

Operated by: Contrada del Drago