Siena

---

First big Wednesday trip and it was a blast...

I don't have classes on Wednesdays so we left Tuesday night for Siena. Since we booked the bus over 2 weeks in advance we only had to pay 5 dollars for transportation. Talk about a budget traveler!

So we arrived in Florence 11 pm Tuesday night, walk around see the famous Piazza del Campo, grab a piece of Nutella Piazza (don't worry, just nutella, no other traditional pizza toppings), and settled in for a busy Wednesday.

After a quick breakfast at the Hotel we headed to Basilica Cateriniana of S. Domenico. This church was huge with just one huge center nave. Free admission which is always nice and some nice decorations and stain glass. Then we headed across town to see the 2 major sites. The Piazza del Campo and Palazzo Pubblico and the massive Duomo. As we hit Palazzo Pubblico with its huge bell tower we waited at the bottom the gain entrance. The 400 stairs to get to the top are so steep and narrow that you can only go one way. To insure that people aren't bumping into each other they have a red and green stop light at the bottom directing traffic. After a brief wait we marched to the top. The top revealed all of Siena: the square, the narrow streets, the churches, city walls, countryside, and the mountains beyond. Snapping more pictures than to look at in a life time and watching the city and everyday life took more time then expected but was worth it. Looking at the Piazza del Campo bellow was neat. This piazza is one of a kind with a fan like shape and down hill slate which makes it an excellent place to sit and bath in the sun as most people do. This is also home to the famous piazza horse races that many of you movie goers might associate with the opening scene in the new Bond flick Quantum of Solace. After our decent we stopped in their museum where they were many medieval works of art and more crucifixions than one needs to see in a lifetime. After a busy morning it was time for a well deserved lunch.

Consulting our guidebook and ISC (Italian Student Companion) we found a restaurant that offered all the local dishes including these delicious Almost Pastries. After a filling lunch and some laughs we continued our walk to the Duomo. This Duomo is absolutely massive. At one point the people of Siena wanted to make it the biggest Church and started making the original part of the church just a corner of the overall plan. Although beautiful, the church was never finished because the plague hit and 1/2 of Siena's population died. The unfinished nave now houses the museum. Apart from the Church and Museum itself there is a Baptistery and Crypt. After these four sites it was time for more food so we got some of their famous cheese that they are known for. Let me tell you. Call me crazy but cheese over here is amazing! After checking out a few smaller churches we walked their park which has been a converted fortress. After a relaxing break we grabbed a Gelato before boarding the bus back to Rome, our home away from home.

---

Photos

Duomo
Center Nave

Looking up 400 Stair Staircase
Laura and Jordan

Comments

[Laura Sahyoun]

Siena
It seemed well worth the trip and was a great way to spend your day off.