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

P1250172

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

P1240923

P1240750

P1240697

Porchetta sandwiches are a popular lunch in Siena

P1240699

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

P1240773

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

P1240778

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

P1240907

P1240706

P1240717

P1250167

P1250014

P1240711

P1240896

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

P1250036

P1250045

The cornices were decorated with the busts of 172 popes

P1250049

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

P1250022

P1250072

P1250100

P1250056

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

P1250109

P1250112

P1250117

P1250110

P1250122

P1250144

P1250148

The Baptistry

P1240826

Adoring Koreans and the rock star cardinal

P1240833

Another tribute to Italy’s coffee culture

P1240787

The menu from a brothel

P1240852

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

P1240873

P1240975

P1240876

The Italians love a bit of pomp and ceremony

P1240927

Siena had some steep hills

P1240939

P1240981

P1250202

P1250224

P1250226

No comments:

Post a Comment