Fantastic photogenic old clocks everywhere
by Trekki
In addition to these marvellous frescoes and signs I loved the huge clocks everywhere in Siena. Not all have the traditional “design” like the one in my main photo with big and small hands. The one at the old hospital opposite of the cathedral (photo 3 and 4) and the one on Torre del Mangia have only the big hand, so to calculate the minutes is a bit more of imagination. What I liked is the additional date sign at the clock of Torre del Mangia at the point where the “12” is. But my most favourite clock was the one of Chiesa di San Niccolò del Carmine, which was next to where I stayed. Every morning when I got up and looked out of the window, I saw it and I was happy that one day at least the sun was shining so I could take this close up photo.
© Ingrid D., December 2010.
Battistero di San Giovanni - open early already
by globetrott
Battistero di San Giovanni is certainly worth a visit, as it is just a few steps from the Duomo and it even opens already at 09.00 a.m. - a time , when most of the other museums are still closed, and maybe you come to the Duomo during church-service and will be asked to leave again until the service is over...
..have a look into the Battisterio then !!
Letizia says: the best gelato in town
by Trekki about Kopa Kabana :-)
Of course November was a silly month to eat ice cream. And of course Siena’s gelaterie will have open all year round because only we silly tourists eat ice cream in winter. I was no exception, but at least only once, haha. When I asked Letizia where to get the best gelato in her opinion, she dragged me to Kopa Kabana in the north-eastern part of town. I was lucky because this one would close its doors for winter on November 10 and we were there one day earlier. They didn’t have my favourite, cassata siciliana, but they had pistachio, my second favourite. In addition I picked amarena and was very much satisfied. Although it was silly to eat ice cream on a cold and rainy November day..... The two flavours came to 1,70 Euro, which, in my opinion, is relatively reasonable.
Directions:
From Via Banco di Sopra, take a right turn at one of the shops of Libreria Feltrinelli, into Via dei Rossi. The turn shall be marked with a sign “Chiesa San Francesco”, because it is the road which leads to this church. Before the road turns to the right with another road downhill, look at your right and you see the huge ice cream icon standing outside the shop.
Gelateria Kopa Kabana on Google Maps
© Ingrid D., November 2010 (just in case, RickS or others come along and think they can steal texts).
Torre del Mangia
by myriam_c
Torre del Mangia is part of the Palazzo Pubblico. The upper part of this belltower is made from white travertine. It's 88 m high and the highest tower of Italy.
You can climb the 555 stairs for a spectacular view over the city of Siena.
One more view from the Torre del Mangia
by MJB123
When in Siena an absolute must see is a view from the Torre del Mangia and a visit to the Museo Civico. A ticket to both costs 10euros (6 for the tower and 4 for the museam). The climb up the tower is a bit of a challenge. Lots and lots of steps, very narrow stairwells and several points along the way where you can easily bump your head (believe me I did many times).
Sorry, no pictures taken from inside the Museo Civico because they don't allow you to and enforce that rule by more security cameras then the Pentagon has.
I liked the Museo more than anything in Florence. In one of the halls is a statue of a man sitting with his head in his hand worried or saddened about something--better than David in the Accademia. Also a statue of a little girl sleeping innocently. Sad that these works of art are not more known worldwide. Maybe because they don't allow pictures!!
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The old main entrance to Santa Maria della Scala
Interior Courtyard
Great service, welcoming ambiance
Same wow factor as Firenze's Duomo
