The emblem embossed all over the city is that of a she-wolf suckling two children, Romulus and Remus. According to legend, Senius the son of Remus founded Siena; legend has it that Romulus killed his brother Remus in a jealous rage and went on to create Rome. The truth is Caesar Augustus invaded the Etruscan village in 70 AD, paperwork depicting this date can be found in the State library. Siena prospered by becoming a lending state, then exporting wool, now it is a stunning tourist attraction built on steep hills and surrounded by tall poplar trees with a residential population of 50,000.
The undeniable highlight of Siena is the 13th century Piazza II Campo a brick lined square, well oval really, where chariot races where once held. Today, instead of chariots the square plays host to the annual horse race II Palio where thousands pack the square to find the best vantage point to witness this frenetic event, while the winning jockey goes on to rock star status for the year. Get there 3 days early to watch the trials, and event in itself, and pick a colour, contrada of the 17 city districts to barrack for. The race is a chaotic, frantic affair over in a split second but the festivities last from the 6th of July to the 16th of August.
Magnificent buildings like the Municipal Palazzo, the Cathedral and Torre del Mangia bell tower looms over the graceful Palazzo Pubblico built in various stages and envelops the II Campo. The square or Field as it is known, was built for civic events and ringed with cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and churches. This is the place to come to watch the passing parade of tourist and locals, or dine out on a delicious traditional Italian meal. Inside the Palazzo is the Museo de Civic, displaying a range of art work dating back to the 13th century, open daily.
The Fonte Gaia is a glamorous rectangular marble fountain built for the horses, now tourists are welcome to refill their water bottles, except when the II Palio race is on where the horses get first preference.
Take the stairs from II Campo cross the Via di Citta' to get to Siena's hilltop Duomo. Street signs are everywhere, so it is virtually impossible to get lost. The 13th century saw a building boom in Siena when the Santa Maria Cathedral, Opera del Duomo was completed and like all Italian churches, a sight to behold. A massive multi coloured, pink, green, white and grey marbled Cathedral, opulently decorated with frescoes and mosaic floors. An engineering feat to marvel, an enormous structure built under trying conditions; stifling hot in summer, freezing cold in winter, carrying loads of marble up narrow roads and steep inclines via horse drawn carriage. Then mind boggles.
To the right of the Duomo is the Museo dell' Opera Metropolitana and houses the la Maesta' de Duccio di Buoninsegna and many more famous works of art.
Unfortunately, there are not many shaded areas in the Cathedral square, so everyone heads for the parimeter that surrounds the square. Be careful of gifts from up on high, pigeons perch high above the square and deliver a regular flow of poop. I saw a few children in tears as their gelatos got splattered on. I was also shat on from a great height and had to wash down my shirt help by fellow Aussie travelers, which dried in 5 minutes in the dry heat.
Speaking of gelatos, Siena specialises in the best gelatos I have ever tasted in my life, so much so I went back for seconds. Hang the diet!! The taste sensation was too mush to resist.
As you stroll leisurely back through the narrow street, you will come across exclusive jewelry stores and designer shops and you may happen upon a local market where you might pick up an antique or two.
It is amazing to watch the cars traverse the narrow, steep hilly roads of Siena, albeit the cars are euro eco friendly little machines that seem to defy gravity while parked on a definite lean.
If you want to get lost in Siena I recommend taking a local bus ride around the city and check out the ancient,old ad modern architecture built into the hillsides. Stunning and should give you plenty of ideas to take back with you for your own home.
Add sensational Siena to you itinerary, only a day trip out of Florence or a 3-hr train ride form Rome. you will not regret it.
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