Siena Holiday
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Piazza del Campo, Siena © Italian Tourist Board |
Overview: Siena is a popular holiday destination. The red-brown stone of
this medieval city throngs around Italy's finest old square, the
Piazza del Campo. As old as the square itself are the traditions
reverberating off its pavements twice yearly during the Palio delle
Contrade. It is Italy's most colourful festival with rehearsals,
processions and pageantry leading up to the climactic bare-back
horse race around the Piazza. It is taken very seriously as it
provides an outlet to the fierce rivalries that have raged for
centuries among the town's 17 medieval districts.
All of Siena's streets are a delight to explore while on holiday
but some of its most notable landmarks include the Torre de Mangia,
Palazzo Pubblico, the Duomo, Palazzo Piccolomini, Pinacoteca
Nazionale and Museo dell'Opera. Torre del Mangia is the bell tower
to the left of Palazzo Pubblico which stands at 330ft (102m), the
second highest in Italy. It is named after the first bell ringer
who was known for his infuriating idleness. The Palazzo Pubblico
still serves as Siena's town hall although sections of it are open
to the public.
The Palazzo Piccolomini, built in 1460 for the prosperous
Piccolomini family, contains Sienese state archives and financial
records. The Pinacoteca Nazionale gallery is noted for its
collection of works by artists of the Siena School. Siena's
spectacular Duomo is unsurpassed amongst Italy's churches, built in
full Gothic style. The carved pulpit panels, by Nicola Pisano, are
magnificent depictions from The Life of Christ. Many of the
original statues on the church's façade are copies; the
originals are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
Nearby Attractions
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A circular route from Siena through the Chianti hills is a scenic and sensory experience. The route covers the villages of the Chianti Classico wine region garnished with ancient castles and rambling farmhouses. The vineyards and wooded hills of the Chianti are best explored... see full details |  |
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Attracted by the mineral wealth found in the regions of Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria, the Etruscans made their way to Italy around 900 BC. Traces of Etruscan civilisation can be found in their burial sites and in the artefacts found in their tombs.... see full details | |
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Montepulciano is Tuscany's highest hilltop town, built along a narrow limestone ridge at 1,950ft (605m) above sea level. Sheltered within the town's fortified walls are charming streets packed with Renaissance-style palaces and churches. Its most celebrated achievement is its Vino Nobile wines. Also of... see full details |  |
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