This modest Italian town is lost in the free expanses of Tuscany (on the map). In ancient times, it was the center of the powerful Siena Republic, which competed on equal terms with the legendary Florence.
Now the city looks very cozy and tidy. It no longer claims political and economic leadership, but has become one of the key places attracting tourists. Every summer, its narrow streets are filled with a stream of travelers from all over the world. What are they looking for here? Why is Siena so attractive to its guests? We will tell you about this now.
First of all, Siena is known for its historical center, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The buildings here are perfectly preserved and, unlike other cities, they are practically not diluted with new buildings.
The old quarters attract tourists, who slowly walk along the narrow alleys and look into the windows of local residents. Their curiosity can be understood, since in the most ordinary houses you can see incredibly beautiful interiors: old paintings, painted ceilings, stunning chandeliers and much more.
The historical center of Siena has its own architectural celebrities. Every tourist who visits the city must go to see the famous Siena Duomo (on the map). Once this cathedral was the main one in the entire republic, and today it is considered the most important monument of Italian Gothic architecture. Inside the cathedral, a remarkable statue of John the Baptist, made by the famous sculptor Donatello, is noteworthy.
The central square of the city is Piazza del Campo (on the map). People often call it a “shell” because of its unusual shape. The fact is that the edges of the area are higher than its middle. Because of this, Piazza del Campo has a noticeable slope and remains in the memory of Siena guests for a long time.
Piazza del Campo is also famous for the fact that it hosts world-famous horse races twice a year (July 2 and August 16). This competition is called the Palio. 17 contradas (districts) of the city participate in it. The races themselves are accompanied by beautiful rituals and a huge amount of all kinds of paraphernalia.
This tradition appeared after the ruler of Tuscany banned the favorite spectacle of the townspeople, bullfights, in 1590. The residents of Siena were not at a loss and immediately announced a change in the program. Now they invited everyone to watch the exciting bull racing. But such entertainment did not last long and the unfortunate animals were soon replaced with donkeys. But this tradition also quickly exhausted itself. Since 1656, horse racing began to be held on horses, and in this form this competition has survived to this day.
On Piazza del Campo there is another pride of Siena – Palazzo Pubblico (on the map). In the Middle Ages, the powerful “Council of Nine” met here, and now the city municipality is located in this palace.
Palazzo Pubblico has one outstanding feature that has become the hallmark of Siena – the Torre del Mangia. Its height reaches 102 meters, making the tower the highest point in the city. You can climb up, although to do this you will have to overcome four hundred steps and get to Siena exactly at the time when access to the observation deck is open.
Despite the fact that there is no international airport in Siena, getting to this city from Russia is not difficult. Typically, travelers buy air tickets to Florence, and travel from there either by bus or train. The distance between the cities is 80 kilometers, so this trip does not take much time.
See also: 15 most photogenic attractions in Tuscany.
Don’t miss: 7 Most Underrated Cities in Europe.
