viernes, 29 de abril de 2011

ITALY - TUSCANY: SIENA

After travelling to Rome last year, I have come back to Italy to visit two nice areas of northern Italy: Tuscany and Lombardia. There are really lovely villages in these two provinces of Italy, as well as the beautiful city of Florence.

After spending two fantastic days in Florence, we visited Siena in the afternoon of our third day in Tuscany. We had spent the morning in San Gimignano, the best preseved medieval village in Tuscany.

Siena is a really nice city which retains its medieval charm. One of the views I liked the most was the reddish roofs from the top of La Torre del Mangia. And my best time in Siena, the hour I spent sitting in Siena's Campo, the heart of the city. 


Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia



Palazzo Pubblico in Siena
What I liked the most of the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena was its graceful brickwork, this white gothic windows and its medieval crenellations


Palazzo Pubblico in Siena
La Torre del Mangia is quite impressive with a height of 102 meters. There are 503 steps to the top but I assure that it's worth the effort for the stunning view of Siena


Piazza del Campo



Palazzo Pubblico in Siena
The Piazza del Campo is often referred as Il Campo. It's one of Europe's loveliest squares. The square's nine sections honour the medieval ruling Council of Nine. Its fountain and slope are more than decorative. They're integral to the Siena's water system


Duomo and Piazza del Campo in Siena
As you can see, Siena's Duomo is not far from Piazza del Campo. Siena isn't actually a large town as I could see from the top of La Torre del Mangia. I really liked the homogeneous view of red roofs



Siena's Duomo



Duomo of Siena
Imposing look of Siena's Duomo, a fabulous cathedral


Duomo of Siena
Detail of the main façade of Siena's Duomo


Duomo of Siena
Inside Siena's Duomo is the most beautiful cathedral in Tuscany, much more than Florence's Duomo


Duomo of Siena
The marble floor of Siena's Duomo is one of its major attractions



Piazza del Campo




Torre del Mangia in Siena
After visiting the Siena's duomo we came back to Il Campo to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this large square


Piazza del Campo in Siena
Beside La Torre del Mangia was built La Cappella della Piazza by the Sienese citizens who survived the Black Death of 1348


Piazza del Campo in Siena
Siena's Campo is the centre of Sienese public life and twice a year is packed with crowds for the Palio horse race. From this point I could admire quietly the nice reddish palazzos located around this square



Palazzo Piccolomini in Siena
The Palazzo Piccolomini is the only Florentine Renaissance palazzo in Siena


Piazza del Campo in Siena
I spent a really nice time sitting in Siena's Campo, a truly lively and beautiful place in Siena. Il Campo is one of the places I liked the most in Tuscany


After an intense day in San Gimignano and Siena, we came back to Florence in the evening. The following day we visited the leaning Tower in Pisa and the lovely town of Lucca.

Below you have the places we visited in Tuscany and Lombardia:


Finally, you can see more pictures of the days I spent in Rome last year clicking on the next links:



Other great cities and countries I have visited are:


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