Where are the people?
by karenincalifornia
I had to do a double take when I looked at this picture. This was taken in the central part of Siena - the Piazza del Campo - the place where all tourists (like us) had to stop. Now after griping in my other tips about how crowded Siena was in July, you are not going to believe that is was that crowded when you see this picture.
It WAS crowded. Everyone was standing in line to climb up the campanile. Moments when we weren't fighting our way through the crowds.
Taking family photos in the Piazza del Campo like all good tourists should.
The wolf (il lupo) on this...
by sandravdp
The wolf (il lupo) on this small statue is to be seen in every city. It's said that this wolf brought up Romulus and Remus. The two brothers later stood up to eachother and awaited for signs to tell them who could built a city. Later on Romulus was the chosen one and started building Rome, the first city of the Roman Empire Period.
Loggia della Mercanzia
by globetrott
The Loggia della Mercanzia looks even better at night than during the day.
Plenty of strong lights shine on the beautiful ornaments, while during the day the direct sunshine will never get there.
So the evening & night is certainly your best chance to take good pictures there !
During the day hundreds of people will be walking in that street, so close to all the major attractions. NO special dresscode required !
If not for the tiramisu...
by Tijavi about La Cellina
The restaurant prides itself with rave reviews from travel guides. My encounter with them was prompted by my search for something light - think seafood - after days of feasting on Siena's meaty cuisine. So it was seafood all the way.
It started with mussel soup, which was average - quite decent if you realize that Siena is hundreds of miles inland. The grilled seabass that followed was the same mediocre dish - and without batting an eyelash, the waiter proceeded to de-skin the fish - to my horror! I love my sea bass with skin and waiters usually ask before they show off their fish-handling skills. The saving grace was their homemade tiramisu - delicious!
Probably because of the positive travel guide reviews, the restaurant thinks their food was worth more than average. Paying more than average for food that is clearly average is not my idea of a good dinner - so this restaurant is best avoided if you share the same views.
Interior of the Duomo
by JoostvandenVondel
Upon entering the Duomo of Siena, the visitor is greeted with an almost metaphysical embrace. What is so striking about the interior of the cathedral is the use of colour, most notably the black and white marble which permeates throughout the structure. During the Middles Ages when the Duomo was built, the most powerful towns in Tuscany (and indeed throughout most of Europe) civic pride was expressed by the construction of a cathedral, but Siena's pride seemed to go even further by incorporating it's municipal colours. Black and white are the colours found on the civic coat of arms of Siena and are linked to the black and white horses of the legendary founders of the city: Senius and Aschius who were the sons of Remus, one of the co-founders of Rome.
The design of the Duomo is based on that of a latin cross with a slightly projecting transept. Each side of the nave is flanked by two side aisles, separated by semicircular arches. Atop these arches one can see a cornice running the length of the nave decorated with busts of popes (dating from around 1495). There is no triforium, and the perpendicular clerestory (the stretch of windows above the side aisles) is also decorated with black and white marble panelling. The beautiful vaulted ceiling is painted with an azure blue with golden stars which poetically immitates the evening sky. The formerets (the wall-rib carrying filling-in of a vault) and tiercerons (secondary ribs) are decorated with multi-coloured motifs. The cathedral is also crowned by a hexagonal dome which was painted in the late 15th century with tromp l'oeil coffers in blue and golden skys. The high Renaissance altar is found in the choir/apse below the stained glass window depicting The Last Supper. I'll describe some of the other elements in the following pages...
My numerous visits to the Duomo of Siena have always been an uplifting experience, but I suggest, that if you can, arrive early when the crowds of tourists are limited. Wondering around the near empty cathedral will give you a better sense of what this cathedral is trying to transmit to its visitors. Aside from its striking display of marble stripes, it is a cathedral which exudes a sense of peace, owing especially to the starry night sky motif which cloaks the ceiling.
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Siena, San Francesco window
Another marble mosaic on the duomo's floor
Torre del Mangia
Palio, July 2006
