We left Venice late in the day and found a Chinese restaurant owned by a Wenzhou man on the way to have dinner, we were already hungry but we were just on a tight schedule. We stayed in an unknown tourist hotel, far from the city, in the middle of the journey to the next city, and the next day we went to the historic city of Siena, Italy. I got the name Siena from the Serie A football league, and Siena FC is one of the strongest teams in Serie A, but not as famous as Roma.
Siena is located in the South Tuscany region, about 50 kilometres south of Florence, at the confluence of three hills in the Chianti Mountains between the Althea and Althea valleys. Founded in 29 BC, Siena was historically a centre of trade, finance and art, and is now the capital of the province of Siena.
Siena is the embodiment of a medieval city whose inhabitants competed with Florence for the right to plan the city on this land and won, preserving the city that was built between the 12th and 15th centuries and fulfilling the Gothic dream they sought. During this period, Duccio, the Lorenzetti brothers and Simeone. Martini and others enabled European art to develop in a wider area of Italy.
Here, the Piazza della Idyllica concentrates a whole masterpiece of urban design, as works of art blending into the surrounding landscape and interplaying with it. Before the Roman colonial period, it was an Etruscan area known as Giulia Saena. It was an Etruscan settlement known as Giulia Saena, founded by Augustus in 29 BC. The medieval city of Siena grew up along the Via Francigona, a road used by pilgrims dating back to around 1000. It replaced the somewhat older Via della Cassia, which linked Rome in northern Italy and which was ruled first by Lombardy and then by the Franks. Piazza del Capo was formed at the intersection of the route between Rome, Florence and Maremma, where the independent Sienese emperors were rival factions to the Florentine papists. The two cities fought several famous wars over the territory, including the War of Montpetaldi in 1260 and the War of the Pass of Elsa in 1269. Siena’s merchants and bankers, who had a reputation in European markets and at the papal court, ensured the city’s prosperity, and Siena reached its heyday in the 13th century, when Gothic architecture was in full swing.
When the middle classes came to power in 1287, Siena’s economy and architecture developed considerably. In 1559, under Cosimo I, Siena became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and in 1859 it was the first Tuscan city to join the Kingdom of Italy. historical centre around it, in fortifications dating back to the 14th and 16th centuries. Piazza del Capo is the heart of the city, situated at the intersection of three hills and the intersection of three avenues, which form the “yah” shape of the city. The famous Piazza del Capo is shaped like a shell and slopes down to the intersection with a carefully carved public building on its surface. The landscape also incorporates many green areas. Siena’s urban architecture is dense and highly statistically homogeneous, with a light red tone to the brickwork and in harmony with the surrounding dark blue-grey hills. In addition to Romanesque and Renaissance elements, the Italian Gothic style plays an important role, with its oriental influence from the Crusades and its expression in the form of narrow arcades, and the numerous Gothic fountains, most of which were built in the 13th century, add to the splendour and harmony of Siena, which is a unique medieval city that has retained its character and nature and which has truly influenced Medieval art, architecture and urban planning influenced not only Italy but most of Europe.
Siena’s urban fabric and the overall effect it has on the surrounding cultural landscape are in harmony. We soon arrived in Siena and saw the minarets in the distance. The car was parked in an open area at the edge of the old city and then our guide took us along the narrow streets into the city. Siena has a population of just over 60,000, mostly living in the old city, and because of the many ruins in the old city, large vehicles are not allowed into the city in order to protect it, as is the case in Rome. Although Siena’s population is not very large, it is very touristy and full of tourists with all sorts of faces, as we walked and listened to our guide.
If Florence was the cradle of the Renaissance, then Siena is a fine piece of art in itself. This medieval city, surrounded by the tranquil Tuscan countryside, has survived the millennia and is a natural expression of the Sienese people’s love for their homeland. Since the 12th century, the Sienese have clung to a Gothic dream, which has led to an enduring rivalry with Florence, Italy, in terms of city-building. The plan of the ancient city is centred on the Piazza della Rustica and blends seamlessly into its surroundings. It is therefore only fitting that the entire city should be viewed from the Piazza della Rustica.
We followed our guide to Field Square and were captivated by the magnificent architecture. From the Piazza della Terra you can see the whole city, with its many streets leading to every corner of the old town, with a constant flow of people and many shops alongside, with a wide range of goods, including some of the biggest names in the business.
The idyllic square is the soul of Siena. Its unique shell shape is an architectural masterpiece. Viewed from above, the square is in the shape of a giant fan, consisting of nine sections representing the nine members of the Siena government. Montaigne said in 1580 that the square was not only the spatial centre of the city, but also the spiritual centre of gravity for the people of Siena. Public masses are celebrated daily on the altar of the square, and as the houses and shops are built facing the square, the inhabitants and craftsmen do not have to leave their homes or stop their work to hear the mass, and the important events in the life of the Sienese take place in the square. Every summer, on 2 July and 16 August, the famous palio horse race festival takes place in the square. All the parishioners gather in the square and the atmosphere is very lively.
The second tourist attraction we visited was the cathedral, which is located at the highest point of the old city and has a surface inlaid with black and white marble. The front of the church reflects the architecture of two eras; the three gates in the lower half are Romanesque, while the upper half is Gothic in style. The interior of the church is even more fascinating, and a full hour is absolutely necessary to admire it in detail. The entire floor is made up of 56 pieces of superb marble mosaics. City Street, Siena’s most charming street, is located between the Cathedral and the idyllic Piazza, and is home to not only top Italian clothing brands but also a magnificent Gothic palace, built in the 12th century, whose rounded exterior complements the curves of the street. The building has been home to the Conservatory since 1932 and every year it plays host to a lively programme of musical myths. In addition to evening concerts, musicians teach students from all over the world about music throughout the summer, and visitors can request to see the palace’s precious collection.
Since the 12th century, Siena has been divided into 12 parishes, each with its own church, traditional customs, symbolic colours and symbolic animals.
Built in 1081, the fountain of Brunda is topped with a guttering spout inlaid with animals and has three solid Gothic arcades, which lead to a cavern. The fountain’s first water tray is for human consumption, the second for the animals and the third for washing clothes. Lovers like to come here to make their love vows, and the surrounding cafes make delicious ice cream.
Although every city we visit is like a walk in the park, because of the time available, it is also unrealistic to be able to get to know and understand a city in depth in a short period of time. When travelling in Europe, each city has its own character and style, which can create a sense of surprise and wonder for first-time visitors. It is by looking at the world through the eyes of history and seeing the rich heritage that these ancestors have left behind for the world that we open our eyes and increase our experience and insight. We said goodbye to Siena and headed for another cultural city, Florence.
