Signs, madonne and frescoes everywhere
by Trekki
Don’t just walk through the streets but look up to find amazing details. I found wonderful frescoes, partly in need of restoring, partly full and rich in colour, little and small statues of madonne at corners or above the entrance doors. But the best I saw was this sign of a dentist. The dentist is long gone but the sign is still there. It is in Via di Città, just behind the Campo. The sign in photo 3 is obviously a city sign, with historical relevance. However, no one could tell me what it means, not even the people at the ticket booth of the cathedral (that's where I took the photo, it is at the walls of the church).
Update, shortly afterwards :-) Thanks dear VTer who wants to stay anonymous for telling me what the sign in photo 3 stands for. It is the coat of arms of Pope Alexander VII, who was born in Siena, actually of the Chigi dynasty. I am still amazed that the personnel at the duomo ticket booth didn't know that! And I should have known as well, since I have read both, Angels and Demons and Da Vinci Code while I was in Siena... crossed keys under the Triregnum.... (haha, but that... will be another story in context with the church of Santa Maria Servi).
© Ingrid D., December 2010.
Cypress lined road near La Foce
by sim1
This is an image you will see everywhere in Tuscany on postcards: a beautiful winding road lined with cypress trees on either side. I think it looks beautiful so I set out to take a photo of a road like this myself.... but wow, that is easier said than done!
This road might be famous on the postcards and a symbol for the landscape in Tuscany, but it is actually very hard to find one for real. After driving around the whole afternoon, enjoying the surrounding landscape and visiting some villages, finally, just minutes before the sunset I found 'my' road! Hahaha, I can't tell you how happy that made me :-))
Did you know that these cypress roads have a sad history to them? These trees were often planted along roads to commemorate the dead from wars.
Sienas most popular bakery
by Bigs about Nannini´s
I found that the staff here was rather unfriendly......it´s a hectical place and you have to pay first before you get your drinks.........the food and drinks are great that´s no question!!!!! I only had a cappucino here and a panini...... The cappucino was one of the best I ever had.....the panini was ok too.......
Idyllic scenery in the countryside near Siena
by Georgio
The abbey of Saint Galgano with the Montesiepi hermitage rise in the valley of the river Merse, between the medieval villages of Chiusdino and Monticiano, in the province of Siena. Both sites are easily reachable from Florence following the motorway FI-SI until the exit towards 'San Lorenzo a Merse', then following the indications for Monticiano. You can also exit the motorway at Siena and then drive on the road SS73 that leads to the ruins of Saint Galgano.
Famous film-maker Andrei Tarkovsky filmed here parts of his film "Nostalghia".
Also here in the nearby chapel the visitor can see the famous SWORD OF THE ROCK, a mysterious medieval sword
The most famous Sienese building
by Helga67
When visiting the lovely Piazza del Campo, you just can't ignore this wonderful building. It's the Palazzo Pubblico, surrounded by remarkable buildings. The slender tower is the Tower of Mangia and at its foot, you can see the Cappella di Piazza.
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Fonte Gaia, on the Piazza del Campo
View from Loggia
The average mussel soup
Details of Pisanos' pulpit
