The Black Rooster legend

The legend places the origin of the Black Rooster symbol in the medieval rivalry between Florence and Siena. The two republics agreed that riders would leave their cities at cockcrow and establish the border where they met. Siena fed a white rooster generously, while Florence kept a black rooster hungry. The black bird crowed during the night, giving the Florentine rider an early start and allowing Florence to claim most of Chianti. The emblem subsequently became associated with the territory and its wines.