Abbiamo Vinto! (We Won!)

 

 

Siena's Palio is world famous.  A bareback horesrace around the Campo, the city's main piazza.

 Ever since Renaissance times, when the city temporarily reduced taxes for the winning neighborhood, it's been a no-holds-barred, bare-knuckled showdown that attracts thousands.

 

Pienza's version of the palio is a bit more sedate.  Called the "Gioco Di Cacio," the six contrada (neighborhoods) compete in a sort of horseshoes match...rolling a wheel of pecorino cheese across a bumpy piazza to see who can get closest to the pin.

 

This year's was the 70th edition of the "Rolling of the Cheese," and five neighborhoods were psyched to unseat San Piero, the reigning champion.

 

 

For days leading up to the competition, the neighborhoods were decked out in their Contrada flags.

 

The sbandieratori (flag throwers) led off to warm up the crowd...

 

 

Then came the main event.  One-by-one each team of six had a go...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's an old legend that says placing a teammate's hat on the target pin attracts the cheese.

 

Going into the final round, our contrada, Le Mura (the blue triangle), had a slim lead. 

 

 

 The tension was palpable as the final participant from Le Mura knelt on the carpet.

 

 

 

Those final points sealed the victory, and our team erupted in a burst of flag-waving cheers.

The winners' prize...a selection of pecorino cheese, of course.