Week 1: Picnic in Orto dei Pecci and Contrada Caccia al Tesoro

Students and CET Siena staff gathered on Saturday, September 5th for a picnic in Siena's Orto dei Pecci as part of their program orientation activities. After two days packed with orientation meetings, the picnic gave students and staff the chance to relax and get to know one another in a much more relaxed setting.

L'Orto dei Pecci is a true Sienese treasure; located within the city walls, this "Orto" or "garden" is open to the public and offers a small restaurant, as well as a covered pavillion and picnic tables for public use, all of which are situated on a large open field. The property also features vineyards, a small farm, organic gardens, a walking path and ample space for lounging and enjoying a bit of fresh air - all at a mere 5 minutes walking distance from Piazza del Campo.

Following the group picnic, the students participated in a Contrada Scavenger Hunt. In groups of four the students made their way from one end of the city to the other in search of the official headquarters of the city's 17 contradas. The first group to photograph themselves in front of the fountain or horse stall of each of their assigned contradas and send the pictures to the Resident Director won! (Bonus points were given if students imitated the animal/symbol representing the contrada; check out CET Siena students Carey, Kaitlyn and Margaret as they imitate they imitate the "Onda" or "Wave" contrada; below, Chahni, Westley and Michelle imitate la "Pantera" or "Panther").

As newfound Siena residents, the students are quickly catching on to the importance of the contradas in local Sienese cultures. The original contradas were born between the 12th and 13th centuries and they initially served a military function. At the heart of the contrada culture is the annual Palio festival and horse race, which takes place each July and August in Piazza del Campo, Siena's famed central piazza. One horse and rider represents each of the 17 Contradas, and the winning contradas of these two, minute and a half long races around the Piazza bear the honor of their victories throughout the following year. Each of the contradas is represented by a symbolic animal or object, which gives the contrada its name and is depicted in the unique contrada flag. Today, the contrads no longer serve any military or administrative functions, however, Siena residents have a deeply rooted sense of local identity and patriotism that is based in the contrada into which they were born.