The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the PALIO. Amazing PIAZZA DEL CAMPO e TORRE DEL MANGIA!
Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of Siena and is regarded as one of Europe greatest medieval squares. The twice a year horse-race, PALIO di Siena, is held around the edges of the piazza.
Built in 1338/48, it is located in Piazza del Campo (adjacent to the Palazzo Pubblico). When built it was one of the tallest secular towers in mediaeval Italy. At 88 m it is now second only to Cremona
The Cathedral of Siena dedicated from its earliest days as a Roman Catholic Marian church and now to Santa Maria Assunta is a medieval church. The cathedral was designed and completed between 1215/63.
On the Duomo Square, opposite the old hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, rises the huge majestic Cattedrale dell'Assunta, a splendid example of the Italian Gothic.
It has the form of a Latin cross with a slightly projecting transept a dome and a bell tower. The dome rises from a hexagonal base with supporting columns. The nave is separated by semicircular arches
The exterior and interior are constructed of white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, with addition of red marble on the façade. Black and white are the symbolic colors of Siena.
Unlike Florence or Pisa, Siena did not build a separate baptistry. The baptistry is located underneath the eastern bays of the choir of the Duomo. It was completed about 1325.
The construction of the interior was largely performed under Camaino di Crescentino. The main attraction is the hexagonal baptismal font, containing sculptures by Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia.
In Italy, the Museo dell'Opera, houses works of art formerly in the city cathedral, the "Duomo". The Palazzo Pubblico, itself a great work of architecture, houses yet another important art museum.
It is included within the museum is Ambrogio Lorenzetti's series of frescos on the good government and also some of the finest frescoes of Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti.
The origins of the first structure are obscure. There was a 9th century church with bishop's palace. In 1058 a synod was held in this church resulting in the election of pope Nicholas II.
One of eight gates in Siena's old defensive enclosure. The arch of the gate bears the inscription "Cor Magis Tibi Siena Pandit", meaning "Siena opens its heart to you wider than this gate".
Stadio Artemio Franchi (MontePaschi Arena) is a multi-purpose stadium in Siena. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of Siena. The stadium was built in 1923 and holds 15,373.
Siena railway station serves the city and comune of Siena. Opened in 1935, it forms part the Central Tuscany railway (Empoli–Siena–Chiusi), and is a junction station for a branch line to Grosseto.
