Siena Italy Surrounded By Vineyards And Olive Groves

Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, Siena Italy sits on the northern edge of the Crete Senese, a landscape of soft, rounded hills bathed in warm, golden light. One of the most beautiful cities of Tuscany, it is set on three hills linked by a maze of winding alleys and steep steps. The Piazza del Campo, a stunning paved square, stands at the heart of the city, overlooked by the magnificent Duomo. Siena Italy is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, which lends a bustling, vibrant atmosphere to this historic place.

Siena Italy

The city started out as an Etruscan hilltop town, but by 30AD the Romans had established a military outpost here. The Lombards arrived in 6th century, followed by the Franks. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, the church played an active role in governing the city, but the inhabitants soon claimed their right to govern and administer their town.

Siena Italy

The city’s wealth and military power grew quickly and friction developed between Siena and Florence, as both cities tried to enlarge their territory. There were many battles between the two cities, but eventually Siena was incorporated into Florentine territory. Despite these turbulent times, in the years 1150-1300 the city flourished and beautiful monuments such as the Duomo, the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia were built. However, a devastating plague hit Siena Italy in 1348 and killed three-fifths of the population, after which the city was slow to recover.

In the centre of the city is the enormous, scallop-shaped Piazza del Campo. One of the greatest squares in the world, it is overlooked by the Palazzo Pubblico and the soaring Torre del Mangia. Collectively, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and represent a millennium of Siena’s cherished aspiration of independence and (not always successful) democracy.

On the 2 July and the 16 August every year, the Piazza del Campo hosts the Palio, a world-famous bareback horse race round the cobbled streets of the city. Rival processions fill the town, each in their own colourful medieval dress, with screeching bands and flying flags. These races have been run continuously for at least 500 years and area a part of Siena’s living history.

Population Of Siena Italy

56,000 (2006)

When To Go To Siena Italy

July or August for the Palio.

Don’t Miss To Visit This Place In Siena Italy

• The Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia – the palace was built in the 13th century to house the republican government.
• The Duomo – this medieval cathedral takes the form of a Latin cross. Both the exterior and interior contain examples of striped black and white marble, the symbolic colours of Siena due to the black and white horses of the city’s legendary founders Senius and Aschius.
• The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo – houses the best of Siena’s paintings and sculptures, including some of the best Italian Gothic and Renaissance art in the country.
• The Pinacoteca Nazionale – a wonderful art gallery displaying local art dating from 1200-1300.
• The Piazza del Campo – this shell-shaped piazza lies at the heart of Siena and has served as a focus for life in the city for centuries. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful civic spaces in Europe and is the venue for a medieval horse race that takes place each year in July or August.
• The church of San Domenico.

You Should Know About Siena Italy

There are entrance charges for most historic sites.

Siena Cathedral, Italy

Piazza del Campo | Siena Italy

Torre del Mangia | Siena Italy

Palio In Siena Italy

See Also

• House of Hans Christian Andersen | Odense Denmark
• UNESCO World Heritage City | Bergen Norway
• The Inevitable Scandinavian | Oslo Norway
• Top 12 Luxury Train Travel Fares in The World