Saturday 7 June 2014

5 – 6 May 2014 – Siena, Toscana, Italy

Siena is a walled Tuscan city perched on top of a hill. It’s famous for for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and Il Palio, a horse race held twice a year in the Piazza del Campo.

The Porta Camollia entrance into the old city

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Piazza del Campo, a shell shaped square at the centre of the city, and the Palazzo Pubblico, Siena's City Hall

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Porchetta sandwiches are a popular lunch in Siena

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There were gelaterias on every corner with their eye catching flavours on display

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Outside the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the oldest surviving bank in the world and Italy’s third largest bank

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Siena’s Duomo with its ornate marble facade and a striking zebra striped tower

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The inside of the cathedral was striking with black and white striped marble walls, stained glass windows, and ornate ceilings

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The cornices were decorated with the busts of 172 popes

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A section of the inlaid marble mosaic floor of the cathedral with the emblem of Siena in the centre surrounded by the emblems of Siena’s allies

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Inside the cathedral was the Piccolomini Library with beautifully preserved frescoes, painted ceilings

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The Baptistry

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Adoring Koreans and the rock star cardinal

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Another tribute to Italy’s coffee culture

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The menu from a brothel

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Marching bands representing some of the 17 contradas (districts) of Siena that compete in Il Palio (the annual horse race) around Il Campo

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The Italians love a bit of pomp and ceremony

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Siena had some steep hills

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