Siena
We visited Siena in 2004 and again in Christmas of 2009. Siena is famous for its medieval buildings and the Palio di Siena, which is the shortest horse race in the world. It is also one of our most favorite cities in Italy due to the people, history, architecture, and Palio politics.
The shell-shaped town square (Piazza del Campo) of Siena houses the town hall (Palazzo Pubblico) and the majestic town hall tower (Torre del Mangia), but is famous for hosting the Palio horse race. The Palio is a traditional medieval horse race run around the Piazza del Campo twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August. The event is attended by huge crowds. Seventeen Contrade (city neighborhoods) race for the trophy (a painted banner bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary), but the bragging rights of winning the Palio far outweigh the trophy itself. The rules are fairly complex with ten of the seventeen Contrade run in each Palio: seven who did not run in the previous year's corresponding Palio, together with three drawn by lot from the remaining ten. A horse is assigned to each by lot and is then guarded and cared for in the Contrade stable. The jockeys are paid huge sums and indeed there are often deals and bribes between jockeys or between "allied" Contrade committees to hinder other riders, especially those of 'enemy' Contrade. Needless to say this is a big deal! Our guide mentioned that her and her husband (who is from a different Contrade) will not talk when their Contrade’s compete.
The Siena Cathedral (Duomo) is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture and its main façade was completed in 1380. It is unusual for a cathedral in that its axis runs north-south (most churches have an east-west axis). This is because it was originally intended to be the largest cathedral in the world, with a north-south transept and an east-west nave as usual. But after completing the transept and the building the east wall (which still exists and may be climbed by the public via an internal staircase) the plague hit and money ran out so the rest of the cathedral was abandoned.
The Basilica of San Domenico or Basilica Cateriniana was begun in 1226 but was renovated in the 14th century to its current Gothic facade. It is a large brick church with a tall bell tower. The interior is a cross style with a huge nave covered by trusses and a transept featuring high chapels. The church contains several relics of St. Catherine of Siena, such as the head of St. Catherine (which is on display)
One of the many smaller piazzas around Siena is the Piazza Salimbeni. It is notable because on the Piazza is the medieval headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in continuous existence. In its center is the statue of the archdeacon Sallustio Bandini, who was a noted champion of economic freedom
Read MoreThe shell-shaped town square (Piazza del Campo) of Siena houses the town hall (Palazzo Pubblico) and the majestic town hall tower (Torre del Mangia), but is famous for hosting the Palio horse race. The Palio is a traditional medieval horse race run around the Piazza del Campo twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August. The event is attended by huge crowds. Seventeen Contrade (city neighborhoods) race for the trophy (a painted banner bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary), but the bragging rights of winning the Palio far outweigh the trophy itself. The rules are fairly complex with ten of the seventeen Contrade run in each Palio: seven who did not run in the previous year's corresponding Palio, together with three drawn by lot from the remaining ten. A horse is assigned to each by lot and is then guarded and cared for in the Contrade stable. The jockeys are paid huge sums and indeed there are often deals and bribes between jockeys or between "allied" Contrade committees to hinder other riders, especially those of 'enemy' Contrade. Needless to say this is a big deal! Our guide mentioned that her and her husband (who is from a different Contrade) will not talk when their Contrade’s compete.
The Siena Cathedral (Duomo) is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture and its main façade was completed in 1380. It is unusual for a cathedral in that its axis runs north-south (most churches have an east-west axis). This is because it was originally intended to be the largest cathedral in the world, with a north-south transept and an east-west nave as usual. But after completing the transept and the building the east wall (which still exists and may be climbed by the public via an internal staircase) the plague hit and money ran out so the rest of the cathedral was abandoned.
The Basilica of San Domenico or Basilica Cateriniana was begun in 1226 but was renovated in the 14th century to its current Gothic facade. It is a large brick church with a tall bell tower. The interior is a cross style with a huge nave covered by trusses and a transept featuring high chapels. The church contains several relics of St. Catherine of Siena, such as the head of St. Catherine (which is on display)
One of the many smaller piazzas around Siena is the Piazza Salimbeni. It is notable because on the Piazza is the medieval headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in continuous existence. In its center is the statue of the archdeacon Sallustio Bandini, who was a noted champion of economic freedom
Siena - Church of St Christopher & Piazza Tolomei
