By Laura Bonelli

As we read in the chronicles of the early eighteenth century, on the occasion of the races it seems that along with the real prize, which ended sooner or later to be dismembered or melted, the winning Contrada was also given a banner painted in memory and symbol of victory and that could be handed down for memory.
In the early years of the century a second "alla tonda" palio was introduced, to be run the day after the usual "in the long run" and that, with the passage of time, would eventually take its place. After winning on July 2, 1701, the Nobile Contrada dell'Oca asked to "resort" the Palio won by giving up the win on August 16 for the Assumption allocating the 60 thalers won in July. Thus was born also the second prize to the round that from 1774 was permanently organized by the civic administration. But throughout 1700, Grassi tells us, the real "ordinary" Palio was for the Sienese that of July. The one in August was considered as an accessory of the Patronal Feasts. As we read in the chronicles of the "ricorsa" of 16 August 1713 organized by the Contrada of the Chiocciola, and that was won "in the middle" by the Wave and the Tartuca, was exposed a silver basin worth 40 tollers but according to the descriptions there was also "a taffetta" that the two districts split and “un drappellone e la mazza“ that was donated to the church of San Giuseppe. So we talk about three distinct things. Taffeta also appears in a famous painting that illustrates the event. Traditionally, however, the oldest drappellone preserved in a museum is that of 2 July 1719, won by the Noble Contrada dell'Aquila, and from that date we use to start a stereotypical iconography that for what concerns the July Palio puts in the center the Virgin half bust whose features derive from the terracotta sculpture venerated and kept in the Basilica of Provenzano. She is depicted and crowned on a cloud, accompanied by the coats of arms of the Grand Dukes, nobiliaries of the Deputies of the festival and the districts that at the beginning play a more decorative marginal role. As for the Palio dell'Assunta, that is, on August 16, the iconography of the Virgin is seated on the clouds with the variant of arms open forward to embrace the city or standing. Throughout the eighteenth century the style of the banners was substantially linear and of rather modest quality; the performers were anonymous decorators while at the end of the century there is a sort of experimentalism. Even the very form of the drappellone undergoes some novelty as seen in the Palio run by the Istrice, winner in July, August 17, 1772, which appears below with its emblem and brings up in the place of the Virgin the image of Saint Bartholomew protector of the Contrada. May 16, 1721 is a milestone in the history of the Palio "alla tonda". On that date, the college of Belia issued a notice that would constitute the first modern regulation of the Feast.