If you want to immerse yourself in a medieval and yet romantic setting then there is a good reason to visit Siena, a renowned city of the Tuscan hills rich in history and culture.
The city is full of medieval tiled buildings and it looks as it did in the 14th century. It was first settled in the Etruscan age. During the Roman period, a town called Saena Julia was founded on the site of this city. Siena was later invaded by the Lombards (Longobards) and it started to prosper. In 774 the Lombards surrendered to Charlemagne and the city was subject to Frankish influence. After a feudal period and the death of Matilda of Canossa, countess of Tuscany, the Republic of Siena was founded. In the Middle Ages Siena reached its peak of splendour and prosperity. The most important historical buildings of the city were building during this golden period. Siena stood up to the Black Death, the Plague which infested Europe between 1347 and 1353 and in 1555 surrenderd to Spain after the war with its rival city, Florence, which was allied with Spain. The Spanish King ceded the territory of Siena to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and in 1861 Siena became part of the Unified Kingdom of Italy.
There is a culturally vibrant atmosphere in Siena: the city hosts a prestigious 750 year old university
and other prestigious institutions such as the Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Academy of Music) founded by the Count Guido Chigi Saracini in 1932 as a center for international advanced music studies, the University for Foreigners, the Accademia dei Fisiocritici, one of the oldest institutions for scientific disclosure with a museum of natural history, the Accademia degli Intronati, founded as in 1525 as a center of intellectual life by the aristocrats which nowadays hosts conferences and other cultural activities.
Places to see in Siena
Piazza del Campo is the main square of the historical center of Siena and it is sorrounded by medieval building. The square is really large and it is considered one of the greatess medieval squares of Europe. On the square there are historical buildings, such as the Palazzo Pubblico, built in the 13th century for the Republic of Siena’s government, and the Torre del Mangia, a bell tower next to the Palazzo Pubblico. The tower is 102 meters high and it was built in 1338-1348. When it
was built it was the tallest tower of medieval Italy. It is possible to reach the top of the tower by climbing 400 steps and enjoy a stunning view of the square and Siena. In the square there are several bars where to relax and sip a coffee.
Duomo di Siena is an impressive medieval cathedral which was started in the 12th century in Romanesque style and it was completed in 1263 in Gothic style. Originally it was a Roman Marian church and now is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Inside the church the walls and floors are covered with black and white marble. The design of the stained-glass round window was made by the famous painter Duccio di Boninsegna. There are other masterpieces by notable artists. Nicola Pisano, father of the sculptor Giovanni who made the design of the façade, carved the pulpit and Donatello sculpted the statua of Battista. The San Pietro and Paolo and Sant’Agostino statues for the Piccolomini altar are masterpieces produced by Michelangelo, while the statues of Maria Maddalena and San Girolamo of Cappella del Voto (Vow Chapel) were sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Another event not to miss if you are in town is the Palio, a medieval horse race run twice a year, on July 2nd and August 16th in the square Piazza del Campo.
Famous works of Renaissance and High Renaissance Artists can be found in the churches and galleries of Siena: the Pinacoteca Nazionale, National Museum of Siena and the Church of San Domenico are worthy of visiting.
HOW TO GET THERE
Siena is 79 Km South of Florence driving via the Raccordo Autostradale.
If you travel by train it will take you about one hour and a half. You can find the timetable of the trains on the website of Trenitalia (http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en), the Italian National Railway.
