‘Daughter of Siena’ by Marina Fiorato
The Palio: Siena’s famously dangerous and hard-fought horse race. A year of planning, ten riders, three circuits of the piazza – and all over in a single moment. But in this year of 1723, for two of the women watching, far more than the coveted prize is at stake. For Pia of the Tolomei, the most beautiful woman in Siena, the Palio is her last hope of escaping a violent marriage. For Violante de Medici, it marks the start of what her enemies intend to be her last month as Governess of the city. Isolated in her palace, surrounded by conspirators, she must find the courage to uncover a plot that threatens her very existence. The trumpets sound. And into the piazza rides an unknown horseman, clad in the colours of the Tower contrada. What he does during the race will not only change the lives of Pia and Violante, but alter the course of the Medici dynasty itself… Alive with colour and rich historical detail, Daughter of Siena is a story of treachery, courage and the power of love.
Trivia about Daughter of Siena:
About Siena:
The Palio race takes only 70 seconds
Horses can win the Palio without a rider. This is called ‘scosso’.
Winning riders are often dressed in nappies and given dummies to reflect the fact that when you win the Palio you are reborn. Contrade that have not won for many years are known as ‘Nonni’ – Grandfathers
There used to be 23 Contrade instead of 17. In the 16th century the contrade of the Viper, Strong-sword, Cock, Oak-Tree, Lion and Bear were suppressed for sedition and violence.
About horses in combat:
In the 18th century war horses who pulled artillery carts had to be shod with brass shoes. Iron shoes would spark on the road and ignite explosives.
In the First World War horses in the King’s Troop would have their hooves numbered. If a horse died the rider would have to chop off all four hooves and bring them to the Quartermaster to get a replacement mount. The Household Cavalry, who carry axes, used these to remove the hooves.
Chargers, the horses of an officer, had long flowing manes, but cavalry horses often had their manes shaved so they would not impede swords in combat.
Lippizaners, the fabled white horses form the Spanish Riding School, can be identified by an ‘L’ brand on their left cheek.
About the book:
Marina didn’t have to find a place for her lucky totem - a giraffe – in the novel. One of Siena’s 17 contrade is called Giraffa, and the animal is their emblem.
Riccardo Bruni was named after Richard Brown, Marina’s brother-in-law. He is a keen horseman and racehorse owner and turned forty in the year Marina wrote this book, and she named the hero after him as a present.
Marina got the idea for the novel at the birthday party of her childrens’ friend Sienna.
When Marina visited the city with her family for research she told her children they could choose a flag to take home. Unprompted, they chose the colours of the Tower, the contrada of Riccardo Bruni.
The tower connects Riccardo and Brother Guido, the hero of Marina’s last book The Botticelli Secret, who was from Pisa and was named ‘Della Torre’.
Marina did the illustrations for each chapter heading herself.
Zebra was nearly called ‘Magpie’, but the Italian translation of Magpie is Gazza, a famous footballer in the UK who fell from grace!
