Siena

On our way to Siena, we passed by many rows of the typical Tuscan cypress trees. Apparently, the reason we often associate these trees with cemeteries is that the roots of the cypress tree grow straight down. Therefore, they are ideal for use in cemeteries because they will not damage the graves.

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Historical Walking Tour of Siena

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As we arrived in Siena in the late afternoon, we discovered that the Crayola crayon color, burnt siena, is aptly named. Every structure within view was exactly that color. We checked into our hotel, an enchanting old villa called Hotel Chiusarelli, and then met our local guide, Anna Lisa. She took us on a historical walking tour of the city and pointed out the many famous sites along the way such as the headquarters of the oldest bank in the world, Monte dei Paschi di Siena. The bank has continuously operated since 1472.

 

Our walking tour was especially enjoyable due to the fact that Siena is a pedestrian’s paradise with no cars allowed on the main square. 

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What we remember most about Siena, is the Il Campo. It is the large plaza in the city where they host the 600-year old tradition called the Palio (medieval horse races) every July and August. Contradas are the neighborhoods in Siena (seventeen of them), that sponsor the races. Our walking tour ended at the Contrada della Selva, which is the social center that sponsored last year’s winning Palio horse. 

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While we were shown an informative video about the races, we were served a 4-course meal by the gracious volunteers of the contrada. After the meal was over, we were told (much to our surprise) that the beef stew we had for our fourth course was really made with wild boar meat! Although we had never had wild boar meat before, we actually quite enjoyed it!

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The Cathedral and the Baptistery

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After that, it was time to move on to see the cathedral and the baptistery. When we entered this 13th century Gothic cathedral, our eyes were immediately drawn to the exquisite marble mosaic floors. In addition, we found ourselves gazing at the incredible statues of Michelangelo and Bernini. Definitely worth seeing is the Piccolomini Library with the vividly painted 550-year old frescoes on the walls. Although these frescoes were never restored, the colors remain bright as if they were just recently painted. It is a mystery how anyone can concentrate in prayer while surrounded by so much beauty.

 

With the afternoon free to explore Siena, we joined a few others from the group to walk around shopping and then stopped for tea, coffee, and pastries. Our window seat in the warm cafe was the best way to relax and enjoy the view. Watching both the locals and tourists pass by on the Il Campo on a cold, rainy afternoon added even more to this simple, yet memorable experience.