After visiting Siena, the special color of its facades and roofs, the color of Tuscan lands, is remembered. The city has preserved the spirit and atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Sienans carefully preserve the Gothic appearance of their city, created back in the XII-XV centuries.
Siena
Siena is an ancient city on three hills with a historic center, walled, with a magnificent Cathedral - the Siena Duomo. Brick houses are closely located on the Gothic ringed streets, their small balconies are decorated with colorful flowers; pavements and courtyards lined with paving stones. The center of the Old Town is raised 322 m above sea level. Modern areas are built below, on the plain.
Location and climate
The historic center of Siena
Siena is located in southern Tuscany, on the hills in the foothills of the Apennines, 60 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The climate here is temperate, mild, with warm spring, hot summer and a fine beginning of autumn. The average winter temperature is about + 10 ° C, summer + 30 ° C. Maximum precipitation - in November; from June to early October it is sunny and dry.
A bit about the history of the city
Cozy streets of Siena
The first settlement on the hill, where today the center of Siena is located, was founded by the Etruscans around the VI-V centuries. BC. The Romans occupied it in the year 30. The myth says that the city was created by the sons of Rem - Asky and Seny, giving him the name "Saena Julia". In the Dark Ages, Siena was captured by Lombards, then Franks, who paved their trade route Via Francigena. Having become a free republic, Siena vied with Florence for influence in Tuscany. In 1240, the University of Siena opened. After the plague of 1348, a period of decline began, and in the 15th century Siena nevertheless fell under the rule of Florence. In 1555, the Spaniards captured it, and the rebellious republic lost its independence, becoming part of the Tuscan Duchy.
Sights
Piazza del campo
Palazzo Comunale
Glutton Tower
Chapel di piazza
Palazzo sancedoni
Fountain Source of joy
Siena Cathedral
Baptistery of St. John the Baptist
House of St. Katerina
Osservanza Basilica
Basilica of St. Dominic
Medici Fortress
Museum of the Duomo
Pinacoteca
Piazza del campo
Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo is the heart of medieval Siena. The bowl-shaped area is at the confluence of three hills and major roads. Campo was founded in 1169, and it acquired its solemn appearance in 1327-49. The area is divided into nine sectors paved with red travertine. At Campo are the most important architectural monuments of Siena.
Palazzo Comunale
Palazzo Comunale
The Palazzo Comunale was founded in 1297, but its side wings were completed only in the 17th century. The central part of the palace was created in 1300-05, it has been preserved unchanged. The concave facade enveloping part of the square is built in the style of Siena Gothic. The commune palace was erected for the meetings of the "Government of Nine" of the Siena Republic. Today it houses the town hall, city museum, and Rinovatti theater.
Glutton Tower
Torre del Mangia Tower
Climb to the tower
To the left of the palace is the 102-meter-high Glutton Tower (Torre del Mangia). The building, built in 1325-48, is considered the second highest tower in Italy. 400 steps lead to the observation deck. Watches on the Torre del Manja appeared in 1360. A bell weighing 6.8 tons, installed in 1666, hangs on the belfry - its ringing always informs about the beginning of the Palio holiday.
Chapel di piazza
Capella di Piazza (Cappella di Piazza)
At the base of the tower is a white stone Mariana loggia, the chapel di Piazza (Cappella di Piazza). It was built from 1352 to 1539. Citizens praised the Virgin Mary for getting rid of the plague.
Fountain Source of joy
Fountain Source of Joy (Fonte Gaia)
In the upper part of Campo is a monumental fountain Source of Joy (Fonte Gaia), the work of the sculptor Jacopo from Querch, created in 1414-19. The composition is surrounded by marble parapets with bas-reliefs on mythological and biblical themes.
Palazzo sancedoni
Palazzo Sansedoni (left)
Opposite the Commune's Palace is the Palazzo Sansedoni, a brick building with a semicircular facade and a central tower of the 13th century. The palace was built in 1339 for the Sancedoni family.
Siena Cathedral
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta)
Panorama of the Cathedral
The Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) was erected in honor of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The grandiose Gothic church rises on the site of the ancient temple of Minerva, dominating the whole city. The Romanesque cathedral was founded in the middle of the XII century and was built before the XIV century. He survived more than one reconstruction, and the southern facade has not been completed so far. The inner space is formed by black and white "Siena" columns and rib arches; the marble floor is decorated with 56 plot inlays. The gilded main dome is painted with images of the prophets and hierarchs of the church. The dome lamp was designed by Bernini.
Baptistery of San Giovanni
Baptistery of San Giovanni, photo by jasolo
Behind the cathedral stands the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist (Battistero di San Giovanni) (1316-25). The gothic facade of the sanctuary is lined with black and white marble panels, decorated with carved relief decoration. The main attraction is the octagonal bronze font, decorated with story bas-reliefs. The design of the baptistery was attended by Donatello, Jacopo della Querca, Giovanni di Turino, Ghiberti.
Sanctuary of St. Catherine of Siena
House of St. Caterina (Santuario di Santa Caterina), photo by Ernzard
House of St. Caterina (Santuario di Santa Caterina) - the heavenly patroness of Italy stands on the street of the same name. Since 1461, it was transformed into a pilgrimage temple museum. Inside, the room in which the saint lived was carefully preserved.
Osservanza Basilica
Basilica of Osservanza (Basilica dell'Osservanza)
On the Capriola hill rises the Basilica of Osservanza (Basilica dell'Osservanza) (1490-96) - a monument of Renaissance Siena architecture. In its chapels preserved original paintings and sculptures of the XV-XVII centuries.
Basilica of St. Dominic
Basilica of St. Dominic (Basilica di San Domenico)
In the church of St. Domenica (Basilica di San Domenico) (1226-1265 gg.) Passed most of the life of St. Caterina. Here are stored relics associated with the saint. The most famous is the Holy Head, brought in 1383 from Rome. The statue of St. Catherine can be seen on the spire of the bell tower; in the chapel - her portrait, the work of Andrea Vanni. The basilica has been rebuilt and restored several times. Today it is the spiritual center of Domenican monks.
Medici Fortress
Medici Fortress (Fortezza Medicea)
The Medici Fortress (Fortezza Medicea) (1560-63) is located on Liberty Square. A large-scale brick building with bastions today turned into a tourist park. It hosts exhibitions, music events. In one of the bastions, the Italian Enoteka tasting room is open.
Museum of the Duomo
Museum of the Duomo (Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo)
The Duomo Museum of Works (Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo) contains the masterpieces of the Cathedral: facade sculptures by Giovanni Pisanno, Madonna del Perdono, created by Donatello, high relief of Jacopo Cuerca, many paintings. The pearl of the collection is the altar image of the Maesta by Duccio di Buoninsenia. Inside the museum is the church of St. Nicholas, made in the late baroque style.
Pinacoteca
National Pinacoteca (Pinacoteca Nazionale), photo Message Oblique Speech
In the Buonsignori Palace (XV century), on Via San Pietra, the National Pinacoteca (Pinacoteca Nazionale) is open. It contains the works of Siena, Italian, Flemish masters of the XIII-XVIII centuries.
Fun and Holidays
Palio, photo by Matt Kawashima
In July-August, a large-scale jazz festival Siena Jazz takes place on the territory of the Medici fortress (XVI century).
Throughout the warm season, Siena organizes gastronomic and wine-making events: the May Pasta Festival, the July Sagra del Pesque Fish Festival, the September Wine and Grapes Festival, the gourmet festival Sagra della Bruschetta. Wine and craft fairs are held on March 19 and December 13. A large market operates weekly on Wednesdays, in the fortress and in La Lizza Park.
The main event in the life of Siena is the equestrian competition of Palio. The tradition goes back to the 14th century. Then the urban counteraddies, all the time at war with each other, decided to compete in sports - at the races. Competitions are held in the summer, twice a year. Historically, Siena has been divided into 17 counter-districts; on July 2, 10 contrades participate in the Palio di Siena, and the remaining 7 count on August 16.
July 2 is the day of the Palio Provenzano, and on August 16 the Palio del Assunta will start. Holidays begin with theatrical processions with banners. Then, on Campo Square, covered with soil, horse-drawn horse racing begins. The riders push each other against the horses and fall on their own, therefore often only the horse who comes to the finish line first wins the competition. In September and October, the city celebrates the victorious contra.
What's around
Monte Oliveto Maggiore, photo by Adrian Michael
10 km west of Siena is Villa Cetinale (XVII century) with a regular orange garden and a monastery of the XVIII century. To the north of the villa is the Theban sculpture park.
25 km to the south-west, in the town of Kyuzino, there is an architectural reserve - the former abbey of St. Galgano (XII century).
In the south-east of Siena is another abbey - Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Monte Oliveto Maggiore) (XIV century) with a botanical garden and a religious museum. In the cloister cloisters, medieval frescoes have been preserved, in the choirs of the church and in the hall - sculptural works of Giovanni da Verona.
From early spring to autumn, tourist trains with old locomotives - Treno Natura run from Siena. Their path lies through the Val d'Arbia Valley, the cultural landscapes of Val D'Orcia, the wine region of Le Crete. Trains stop in Aschiano and Monte Antico.
