Istrice museum, Siena, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Istrice museum is the museum of the Contrada dell'Istrice, the Porcupine district of Siena, on Via Camollia in the north of the city. It is one of the neighbourhood museums where Siena's seventeen contrade keep their Palio memories, and it is a good way to understand why this city still lives by its districts.

The story behind it

Siena is divided into seventeen contrade, small neighbourhood communities that each have their own emblem, territory, colours and sense of identity. Istrice means porcupine, and this contrada belongs to Camollia, the northern part of the city, around the road that leads to Porta Camollia, one of the old gates, on the route of the medieval Via Francigena.

Contrade matter above all because of the Palio, the horse race run in Piazza del Campo in summer, in which only some of the contrade take part each time. The winner receives a painted banner, and districts keep such banners, trophies and ceremonial items as treasured possessions. A contrada museum is where that shared memory is put on display.

What to look for

• Look for the porcupine, the emblem of the contrada, which appears on flags, plaques and street markers around Via Camollia.
• Notice the contrada's colours on scarves and flags hung from the buildings, which show you when you have entered its territory.
• If you can see the collection, look for the painted Palio banners, each made for a single race and kept as a record of victory.
• Glance along Via Camollia itself, an old approach road into the city, and see how the street runs toward the former gate.

Tips for your visit

• Allow around 20 to 30 minutes for the street and the museum area, longer if you want to wander the Camollia district.
• Contrada museums are community spaces, so check current opening hours and whether visits need to be arranged before you go.
• The street is pleasant on foot in the morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler and the light is soft on the stone.
• Piazza del Campo and the cathedral are a walk away downhill, so it combines well with the main sights of the old town.

See it on a quest

The Istrice museum is one stop on Siena’s 17 Secrets, A Contrade Quest, a self-guided walk themed around the city's contrade. You reach it on foot as part of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in front of what you see. You can start at any time with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.