The heart of the City by Herkbert
The Piazza del Campo is a huge amphitheater-like square in the center of town. The piazza fans out from the Palazza Pubblico (city hall) and its tall bell tower. On the rim of the square are shops, restaurants and bars that provide an excellent setting to watch the goings on in the square.It is also in the Il Campo that the Palio takes place. Since the square is the center of town, it is appropriate for the 17 neighborhoods or contrades to come here to prove which is better. Rather than a street fight or joust, the Palio is a horse race around the Il Campo. The winner's neighborhood earns bragging rights til the next year's race. (I wonder if that would work in the boroughs of NYC?).
It is a great place to come and people watch, relax and just be Siennese for a while.