Bagoga - a man and a restaurant Bashny.Net

One evening in Siena Another blogger held a dinner in one of the small restaurants. In Italy homeliness appearance catering establishments is often inversely proportional to its popularity among the local people. In the basement of this house of the XVI century it was stable. Now, this place is a restaurant with a strange name "Bagoga».

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Who would have thought that in this restaurant, I met this (although in the past), members of the famous racing festival Palio of Siena. Bagoga - so called Signor Pierino Fanyani, owner of the restaurant at the time, when he was the Palio jockey in the mid 60-ies. In the hands of Fanyani scarf with the emblem of his contrada - Eagle (Aquila).



The Palio is held twice a year - July 2, the day of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Siena, and 16 August, the day of the Assumption, in the Piazza del Campo. Seventeen Contrade (districts) are preparing for this holiday all year: sew costumes, rehearse parades and conduct training riders. The essence of these races is unusual: the participants (in each race of ten) have to drive around the Piazza del Campo three laps. Riders can push and drop to the ground of its rivals - the main thing that came to the finish horse. On the balconies of the houses overlooking the square and surrounding cafes gather residents and tourists to watch the competitions. All windows and balconies overlooking the Piazza del Campo, booked well in advance of the race.



The word "Palio" (from the Latin word pallium - a woolen cape) is called the web, which got it as a reward the winner contrada church and valued very highly. Palio of the XVI century until recently adorned the Church of St Giuseppe in Contrada "Onda". In the XVIII century began to paint the Palio professional artists - the most ancient Palio, the remaining races of July 2, 1719, kept in the museum of contrada "Aquila". Date of first Palio, held in Siena, is unknown, but in the Middle Ages such jumps have been widely distributed in many Italian cities. The first written mention of the Palio of Siena refers to 1656.



Above the entrance to the restaurant hang coats of arms Contrada in Siena: Aquila (Eagle), Bruco (Caterpillar), Chiocciola (Snail), Civetta (Owl), Drago (dragon), Giraffa (Giraffe), Istrice (porcupine), Leocorno (Unicorn) , Lupa (she-wolf), Nicchio (sink), Oca (Goose), Onda (Wave), Pantera (Panther), Selva (Forest), Tartuca (turtle), (Torre) tower, Valdimontone (sheep). A resident of the city, hitting the birth of the one of the Contrada, never change it for another.



Signor Fanyani was very happy when I realized that we were very interested in his past life. He began to show pictures on the walls, attributes jockey, talk about how he built his restaurant here. He even reached into a cupboard and pulled out a medieval salt shaker and the cup, which, according to him, were found in the basement during the excavation.

Jockey Bagoga contrada "Aquila", 1967. Now - a trendy restaurateur, a true master of his craft, who rides with gastronomic tour around the world. He knows everything and he knows all. I saw on the wall a framed photo and autographed - Signor Fanyani and Dustin Hoffman.



Bagoga (right) during the race, in 1968 a few moments and jockey career is over for good.



The two riders collided in a sharp turn. Bagoga fell off the horse hit the fence and lay on the sand. He severely injured his left hand and never raced in the Palio.



Four times Bagoga out at the start of the race in the Piazza del Campo.



In parting, sir Fanyani allowed to photograph his ring with the emblem of contrada "Aquila". Lentil soup with potatoes and meat in its excellent restaurant. But in the race he never once won.



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