October 15-17
Made our way from Lucca via train/bus to Siena on Tuesday. Found our appartamento where we will stay for 5 nights--this one a bit more rustic, but fitting for this ancient city, and feels like we're in the middle of the Renaissance!
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| Siena overview |
We have an awesome view of San Domenico (huge Dominican church) from our bedroom window and can hear the bells chime; fortunately they stop between midnight and 7 am!
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Rustic Sienese Apt
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| View of San Domenico from our bedroom |
Siena is a maze of brick streets and stone buildings, most with interesting facades, doors, plaques or something else interesting to see and photograph.
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| Everywhere you look is an interesting door... |
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| Window... |
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| Or fascinating street that begs a photo! |
Il Campo, the famous gigantic piazza and home to the Palio horse race in the summer, is a fantastic place to sit in awe of the medieval buildings that encircle the piazza. We simply had to get a table at one of the outdoor cafés that ring the piazza even though we knew we'd pay a bit for snacks in this premium location, but well worth it for the experience.
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| Il Campo |
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| Il Campo City Hall |
Wednesday (Mercoledi') we explored some of the amazing sites of this city, starting with the grand Duomo. This gigantic cathedral is full of Gothic and Renaissance art, and is an architectural wonder with its famous striped marble pattern in the nave. The floor is an fantastic compilation of designs made with intricate inlaid marble depicting Biblical scenes. Evidently, we are fortunate as a large portion of these floor designs are often covered for protection, but are all on display in October.
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| Inside Siena's Duomo |
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| Mosaic marble floor designs |
We found statues by Michelangelo, Donatello and Bernini and were impressed with the Piccolamini Library featuring amazing, brilliantly preserved frescoes from 1400's showing the early Renaissance technique of perspective creating the 3-D effect. This room also contains numerous ancient hymnals written and decorated by Monks with elaborate pigments and patterns.
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| Donatello's St. John the Baptist (1457) |
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| Bernini's Mary Magdalene |
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| Ancient Hymnal |
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| Frescoes of the Piccolomini Library |
After a quick cafe panino, we went to the Duomo museum to see some of the treasures removed from the Duomo for preservation. The Duccio Rose Window, once behind the altar was moved to the museum and great to see at eye level. We also loved this Donatello relief sculpture, and the famous Duccio Maesta', but not able to photograph the latter.
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| Duccio's Rose Window |
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| Donatello's Madonna and Child |
The Baptistery adjoined to the Duomo has a beautiful baptismal font with bronze relief sculptures by Ghiberti and Donatello, and others.
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| Ghiberti relief flanked by Donatello sculptures |
We topped off the day by enjoying some gelato while sitting at Il Campo, the only Piazza where people "lay-out" as if at the beach!
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| Relaxing on Il Campo |
Thursday we explored more sights in Siena and enjoyed the Santa Maria Della Scala: complete with Etruscan (indigenous people of the region) ruins and artifacts. We also enjoyed some of the ancient frescoes inside the ancient "City Hall" on Il Duomo.
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| Etruscan pottery 400 BC |
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| Etruscan Urn |
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| Fun scene in an ancient fresco |
Another glorious day in Siena! Capped off with a relaxing glass of wine and people watching at this famous piazza, and gorgeous view by moon light!
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| Un bicchiere di vino |
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