DESCRIPTION
The Contrade Turtle Design Espresso Cup and Saucer, Style #1 4 oz. was handmade, painted and imported from Italy.
Contrade Italian Dinnerware is available in all 17 District Designs and each design is available in eight different products. The Turtle (Tartuca), for centuries has represented the "Rione della Tortuca" during the Palio horse race. "Rione" stands for Neighborhood. The Contrade Italian Ceramics are handcrafted in Siena, Italy.
Tartuca is situated at the southern end of the city. Traditionally, its residents were sculptors.
Tartuca's symbol is a tortoise with alternating Savoy knots and daisies. Its colours are yellow and deep blue.
Winner of the Palio, on July 2, 2009, with Giuseppe Zedde on Già del Menhir. Tartuca last won the Palio on 20 October 2018.
It is opposed to Chiocciola, while its allies are Leocorno, Nicchio, Onda and Selva.
ARTISAN STORY
During the Renaissance, Italian cities were partitioned into districts or neighborhoods called Contrade to supply troops to the military. Today, the most celebrated Contrade are of Siena, where 17 Contrade, each represented by a symbol or animal, compete in the Piazza del Campo for pride and the glory of winning in a biannual horse race called the Palio di Siena, which dates back to 1656.