Friday, September 27, 2013

A visit to Siena

Over the week we have visited very different hill towns. Today we went to Siena, about an hours drive from Cortona. The two main sites are Il Campo and the Duomo.
We parked below and took 5 escalators to the hill above. From there we walked to Il Campo, the heart of Siena and location of the famous Palio horse race. Originally a field it is now a huge brick amphitheater. The race is around it.



Palazzo Pubblico (City Hall) with it's 330 ft tower.





Al + Sally reading about the Fountain of Joy located across from Palazzo Publico.














This gelatoria just opened when we passed by. Later we stopped to try some.


The Duomo is HUGE! This is part of the back where the Baptistry is located.



From there we climbed many stairs to reach the front.
Construction began on the late 13th century and continued for several hundred years. Inside are many frescoes, sculptures, and paintings. The floor is all different inlaid pavement panels which by them self were amazing.






Interior





Fresco and curling on Piccolomini Library.






There was so much to see and absorb that it was impossible to take it all in. Despite the fact that it is built with alternating horizontal stripes like the Duomo in Orvieto it is very different in it's facade and interior.

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