Siena-Florence

On Wednesday we headed off on our own. The Americans stayed in Florence to tour there, while Patrizia Took us to see Siena, a Renaissance town about 90 kms south of Florence. The two towns are quite similar to one another Because they were rivals in Their heyday. The Cathedral in Siena is now known as the Duomo, and is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta.

The floors there are Particularly striking. They were made using a technique called sgraffito, in Which the outlines of the figures are etched into the stone, and then the lines are filled with a kind of pitch to make the lines clear. It's quite beautiful. 

The square in Siena, Piazza del Campo, is shaped like a seashell and is as large or larger than those in Florence. The real bonus was that it was much much less crowded with people, so we could sit down and enjoy the atmosphere while we ate, or just relaxed.

Panorama shot of Piazza del Campo 

For a little change in style, here are Jason Pilkington notes on his experience of Siena:

Medieval city

- all original walls and tower which hasn't been restored.
- 10-20 people live inside. There is one souvenir shop, a restaurant.

Palio

July horse racing in the square. Sand is put down in the square for races. People only care for the horse who is blessed and races for their neighbourhood. Square is packed. It is more important than soccer to the people of Sienna. Seats in the balconies around the square go for $300-$500 Euros each. If the rider falls off the horse they want the horse to keep going and win. After the race they begin to prepare for the race next year. It started 600 years ago. After the August race the winner comes to the Duomo to give thanks to the Virgin Mary with everyone following behind with about 100 drums being banged. There are 17 districts that race. There are two races each year. The race is three laps and takes about a minute and a half to race 10 days to set up.

Before the race the rider and horse go into the church to be blessed to win the race. If the horse poops in the church it is considered good luck.

Bank of Sienna built in 1400s is the oldest bank in the world. Sienna prospered because of banking, since there was no water route for trade. It has the oldest working bank in the world.

Tuscany region is the only maker of cigars in Italy. Farmers are very proud of this and often smoke them while sitting in the square or as they come out of their farm. 

Main Street in Sienna was the second road built in Italy. The city square was built with 11 roads to bring people in to celebrate. There is no wall around to show and welcome people in to celebrate not fight. The clock tower and the church are also the same height to show how to share the power between the church and the state. There was a pilgrim hostel in the church to help travellers with food and drink along their way

Biggest church was started here at the time but wasn't finished because of the plague. 56 pictures made of marble with 40 artists using hand drills and chisels. Frescos painted in the 16th century have never been restored.

Another major attraction is the Piccolomini Library in Siena. The frescos not have been untouched and are completely brilliant, without restoration. (The books for the library, back in the day, never arrived, so the library was never fully used.)

Florence again
We returned to Florence at just after 3 pm for some freetime before supper. Some of us climbed to the top of the Duomo (a claustrophobia inducing staircase between the inner and outer dome), and then also to the top of bell tower.

Some of us shopped. Some of use visited the Uffizi to see some of the great painters of the Renaissance.

Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus

Artemesia Gentileschi, perhaps the only female Renaissance painter of Florence, painted "Judith beheading Holofernes." The painting is significant not only because of its female painter, but because Gentileschi accused her husband of rape and was tortured (thumbscrews, etc.) while on trial, in order for the court to be convinced that she was telling the truth.

After this we went for dinner in a restaurant in Florence, and then headed back to the hotel.