Siena: The Medieval City in Tuscany
According to legend, Siena was founded by Senio, son of Remus. The fulcrum of the city is the famous Piazza del Campo, with its distinctive shell shape, in which the famous Palio is held. The Campo is dominated by the red Palazzo Pubblico and its Torre del Mangia.
The Palio of Siena in Piazza del Campo
The Palio is the most important event organised in the city of Siena and takes place every year on 2 July and 16 August. In the Palio, the different Sienese Contrade, or ‘zones’ into which the city is divided, compete in a passionate horse race in the Piazza del Campo.
The magnificent cathedral of Siena
The Cathedral of Siena, officially the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, is a beautiful Gothic-style complex housing a wealth of treasures by Donatello, Pisano and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by the famous Pinturicchio. The Cathedral is of such impressive beauty that one only has to admire its exterior to be deeply impressed. From the wonderful works of art on the floor to the green and white marble columns; when you enter, you don’t know where to start
The Piccolomini Library
One of the Cathedral’s precious treasures – there would be many more to mention – is the Piccolomini Library. We recommend a visit to the Libreria, not so much to see the collection of manuscripts (which was never really made, there are only a few very beautiful hand-drawn ones) but to admire the frescoes by Pinturicchio and his pupils, among which is a young Raphael Sanzio
