Siena |
The last hill town we visited was Siena which sits on top of three clay hills whose color in the source of the color we know as “Burnt Siena.” In fact the background color for this web site is Burnt Siena. This university town with a population of 57,000 has remained remarkably unaltered throughout the centuries. We admired the medieval architecture of cathedrals and buildings as we walked up and down dark, narrow winding streets. All the streets led to the Piazza del Campo, a wide fan-shaped piazza lined with outdoor cafes and shops. The Palio horse race, a famous contest between neighborhoods, is held in the Piazza twice a year. |
| At right, out first view of Siena. Below, the Duomo, Siena's great cathedral was begun in the 12th century in the Romanesque style but was transformed in the 13th century into one of the finest examples of the Italian Gothic style. Because the street was so narrow we could not stand back far enough to get the entire width of the Duomo in our camera lens. Below right, in the Piazza del Campo is the the "Palazzo Pubblico" (Town Hall) which was built at the end of the 13th century. |
 |
 |
 |