by Laura Valdesi
SIENA
“The Contrade prevent the city from becoming a gray and quarrelsome suburb. We argue in the square for identity reasons, once the Palio is over we return to being Sienese”, underlines Roberto Martinelli (in the photo), prior of the Chiocciola for 12 years and rector of the Magistrate, as well as MPS lawyer until 2005. Judge Francesco Cerretelli listens to him attentively when he testifies in the trial for the clashes of 2 July 2018 between Nicchio and Valdimontone in which numerous contrada members are accused in various capacities for brawling and resisting a public official . Martinelli, called by the defenders of the mountaineers Fabio and Giulio Pisillo, recalls “that after the race there was a movement that presupposed a confrontation. We immediately got off the stage and went to our meeting point. I didn’t see what happened but only a mass of people and of movements which, in my experience, foreshadowed confrontations”. Which have “their rituality”, he explains, highlighting that these are “occasions for reaffirmation of identity and commonality of values”. Which happen for reasons of singing, of Palio. “No one wants to leave, that’s why they prolong themselves, so as not to give in first. The only purpose – he reiterates – is the defense of the identity which only happens in the Square and on the days of the Palio”. Martinelli therefore underlines the relationship of respect towards the traffic police – “it is taught to everyone from an early age” – still remembering “that no one acts for an autonomous offense but it is only behavior in defense of values”. Then remembering with regret that in 2023 two Contrade will face each other in words and songs, distantly. And there was an authority, he reports, who told them ‘I order the charge’. “We are out of this world”, Martinelli’s bitter comment in the courtroom. The judge invites us to stay on the subject of the trial.
Many topics touched on by Martinelli are then also reiterated by Luca Luchini, former prior of the Lupa and author of many books on the Festival, while the Barbaresco dell’Oca Bruno Giubbilei simply confirms “that he took the horse (on 2 July 2018, ed. ) to exit the square and find a concentration of people. I did nothing but pass through the middle, no one said anything.”
On 9 September the consultants of the lawyer Luigi De Mossi for the niche makers will be heard, on 4 November a long hearing for the discussion and the sentence.
