Do you feel like you're going around Robin Hood's barn yet?? HA!
Today it's Siena, the afternoon of the day we saw San Gimignano.
There are so many impressions when you walk into any one of these cities.
I especially liked looking down the side streets as we walked towards city center.
But at the get-go, from afar, we saw what we were there for: the Cathedral and Town Hall square.
In our under 3 hours (which included lunch), we were on a mission.
It so happens that the Town Hall on the Piazza del Campo came first.
It's hard to get fancier than that, as far as tall towers are concerned.
But the piazza itself was humongous and captivating.
We entered it from a street above, through a narrow archway (top-left).
We entered it from a street above, through a narrow archway (top-left).
It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday that April 6th.
Look at the Fonte Gaia ("Fountain of the World") off to one side of the piazza, built in 1419.
I wonder now if people are allowed to cool off in it on hot, summer days?
From the Piazza del Campo we made our way to Siena's cathedral.
I have no clue what we passed along the way...
but when I saw the Duomo/Cathedral, I knew why we were there.
It was consecrated in 1215.
The many faces of this cathedral...
with a Romulus and Remus statue to the left of the front entrance.
Now go inside!
I always start with the nave, both front and back...
and then up.
And down.
And then I look for the pulpit...this one made of Carrara marble,
sculpted by Nicola Pisano and others between 1265 and 1268.
I found two organs for Mom.
Everything has a name and is important, I'm sure.
One could spend hours, days, weeks inside and still not see everything.
Then there's the Piccolomini Library, adjoining the cathedral...
housing illuminated choir books and frescoes.
Talk about the cherry on top!
Did I mention that Siena's city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995?
Did I mention how very worthwhile this tour has been for us,
even if we only got snatches of every place we saw?!
Did I mention how very worthwhile this tour has been for us,
even if we only got snatches of every place we saw?!
