Siena

I cut my time in Rome by two days and came up to Siena to get away from the big city. It is lovely and I am glad visited. The place where I stayed was a convent but I didn't see nuns roaming the place.

At one time Siena was a major banking and trade center as well as a military power. Then in 1348 the bubonic plague swept through the town killing more than 1/3 of the population and the city never recovered to its earlier glory.

A street near the center of town:


Siena's famous main square, Il Campo. Before becoming the city's main square this area was a field (campo) located outside the old city walls. The square's brick surface is divided into nine sections. Each section represents the council of nine merchants who rules medival Siena. This square is pedestrian only, a lovely respite:


On July 2 and August 16th of each year the square is crammed with spectators that come to watch the Palio horse races. Ten horses and riders are selected from among the 17 neighborhoods (contrada) that make up Siena. Each contrada is represented by a mascot and has their own flag which displays the contrada's unique colors. The spectators stay in the middle of the square while the horses and riders race around the perimeter three times. Mattresses pad the sharpest corners:


Looking up to Siena's duomo:


The duomo from the back:


The striped effect comes from the white and green marbles. This marble combination is very popular all over Italy. The duomo was started in 1215, and as you can see from the crane, it is still under construction:


The nave:


One section of the dome's ceiling:


Inlaid pavement panel of the "Slaughter of the Innocents," depicting Herod sitting on his throne as angry soldiers killing all babies to prevent Christ's coming.


The nave ceiling:


Piccolomini Alter was designed for the tomb of Sienese-born Pope Pius III. Even more interesting than this though is Michelangelo's statute of St. Paul which is difficult to see, it is the statute near the right-hand corner.


Designed and built by Nicola Pisano in 1268. The marble pulpit sits on the backs of lions, symbols of Christianity's triumphant. The seven panels at the top depict the life of Christ.


Trying to get some of the detail that covers the outside:



This wall was supposed to be part of the duomo. The plan was to build the largest church in Christendom, but the city was unable to finish the project before the plague struck, forcing the city to give up the project. You can climb to the top of this wall and you can vaguely see individuals already up there. I of course climb to the top. The stairwells were extremely narrow and if you met somebody along the way, one of you had to back up to let the other person pass. There was one lady who had a little breakdown when trying to descend one of the sets of stairs.


Looking down on the duomo from the wall:


Looking out over the city and countryside. I admit I took the picture because I thought the cloud in the distance was amazing:


Looking down on Siena:


Looking down onto the main square:


I took this picture, because it was the first time I had seen an image of Christ on the cross with his arms elevated in the "Y" position. It of course made me wonder if there is any special significance to this position or if it was entirely dictated by its creator.


As will all the places where I stayed, these photos represent only a small number of my photos from Siena. This city is definitely on my recommend list of places to visit when you go to Italy.