Contrada


Contrada is a generic name given to various types of Italian city subdivisions, now unofficial. Depending on the case, a contrada will be a località, a rione, a quartiere, a :wikt:borgo#Italian|borgo, or even a suburb. The best-known contrade are the 17 contrade of Siena, since they form the teams in the palio di Siena.
In some parts of Southern Italy and Sicily contrada is a subdivision of a comune, also administrative. In other regions, as in most of Lombardy, it may simply be a street, but with historical and social importance; however in Mantua contrada indicates a street in the old town.
In Veneto, particularly near the Alpine foothills, contrà indicates a smaller hamlet in a rural area ; a synonym is colmel ; in some municipalities, mostly populated contrae are administered as neighbourhoods ; in Noale, contrae are the seven subdivision that compete in the local Palio. In Vicenza, a contrà used to be a neighbourhood in the town centre, but now it replaces the noun via in the old town. In Venice, each sestiere was subdivided in contrade.
In Florence a contrada is a street of secondary importance.
In the Marches and the Republic of San Marino contrada indicates a street within an inhabited area.