Piazza del Campo
Cathedral
Siena is so beautiful and particular to make it not like anywhere else. It’s so special a place that anyone coming to Tuscany shouldn’t miss visiting it.
The city has a very characteristic and appealing historical center, enclosed within its medieval walls, through which traffic is not allowed.
While entering the town, it’s impossible to not be affected by its peaceful and thrilling atmosphere; it’s a bit like entering another world, where life still goes slowly.
Siena is small enough for you to reach every corner of it on foot, so enjoy the pleasure to wander across the incredibly charming alleys and hidden corners of this beautiful Gothic town. If you go for Siena, here is a guideline to Siena’s top attractions.Piazza del Campo
Il Campo is the core of Siena, an amazing and spectacular huge curving square with the strange shape of a shell. You’ll not find a similar square anywhere else, it’s unique and particular, one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
I suggest you walk all across the square and stop here and there to
admire it and all the beautiful historical buildings surrounding the
piazza.
Right at the highest point of the piazza is the beautiful Fonte Gaia, the fountain of joy, carved by Jacopo della Quercia in the 15th century and representing the Virgin surrounded by the Virtues.
It’s a place full of atmosphere,
even more evocative and enchanting at night. As it was in the past, il
Campo is still the focus of public and daily life, from the city’s
marketplace to the Palio horse race.
Torre del Mangia and Palazzo Pubblico
The lowest end of Piazza del Campo is dominated by the dizzy and
imposing Torre del Mangia and the majestic Palazzo Pubblico. Climb up
the tower’s 400 steps to be rewarded by amazing and outstanding views on all sides.
Just at the base of the tower you can admire the Cappella di Piazza, a
beautiful stone chapel built at the end of the plague, the Black Death,
in 1348.
The beautiful Palazzo Pubblico formerly hosted the headquarters’ of
Siena’s council, but today the main rooms are occupied by the Civic Museum.
Its walls and ceilings are impressive, decorated with fabulous frescoes
and great works of art. The most important are the panels of the Hall
of Nine, by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and the stupendous frescoes by Simone Martini.
Saint Catherine
Located in the contrada dell’Oca (goose district) territory and near the beautiful and most ancient fountain of Siena, Fontebranda, Saint Catherine’s sanctuary and birthplace is a spiritual place full of peace.
Saint Catherine, famous for her mystical visions,
was born here in 1347. She followed the Dominican order, led an austere
life, and struggled against the corruption of the church. Her family
home was then transformed into a real sanctuary with a series of oratories, chapels, artworks, as well as records of her life. The head of the saint is preserved in the majestic Church of San Domenico.
For a free entry you can admire wonderful frescoes representing the saint’s life.
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