Italian holiday-Sienna

This is the old square in Siena and the weather wasn't perfect! What a beautiful town with so many interesting historical facts-like-Siena is divided into 17 'contades'. There isn't a translation for that word according to our guide, but roughly it's a city ward and each one has been assigned it's own animal. There are plaques on the walls with animal pictures on so you always know which district you are in-in theory!
We arrived in the Owl area and there was a large blue ribbon tied around a lovely wall lamp and it was to tell everyone that a baby boy-a little owl-had been born there the previous night. There was also a written announcement in a frame on the wall-just lovely!!
In July and again in August there is a horse race round the grey paved area of this square and the spectators are contained in the middle. As usual the winner is the first past the winning post, but in this race it's with or without the rider!