There’s
so much to see in beautiful Siena….it’s a lovely,
chic town filled with treasures. Siena is a walled town, a town
with 17 contrade (wherever you are born in this town
— that’s your contrada/neighborhood/parish
for life — they take this very seriously) and a center
called "the Campo". All roads lead to the Piazza
del Campo. The Campo is a grand and lovely square,
shaped like a shell and filled with cafes, shops, restaurants,
palazzi and the Palazzo Publico/Palazzo Comunale (13th
century). This palazzo contains the Museo Civico and
the town hall of this fine city. The museum has frescoes, Sienese
paintings and a favorite of mine called the Allegory of Good
and Bad Government by Lorenzetti. This museum is a do not miss.
In the courtyard is the Torre del Mangia (a bell tower)
and you can climb it for the views. The 15th century
Fonte Gaia (Gay Fountain) in the square is a reproduction,
but the original by Jacopo della Quercia is in the Museo Civico.
The Gothic black and white striped duomo is one of the
great cathedrals of Italy. The front is gorgeous, similar to
the one in Orvieto — statues, mosaics, gold and marble.
The pavement inside has 56 scenes (in marble) depicting biblical
and mythological scenes. The pulpit is a masterpiece by Pisano,
containing 7 carvings depicting the life of Christ. You’ll
also find sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo in the duomo.
The Piccolomini Library/Libreria Piccolomini (through
a doorway on the north side of the cathedral) contains frescoes
by Pinturicchio depicting the life of Pope Pius II/Aeneas Silvius
Piccolomini. This duomo is a must see. The Museo dell’Opera
Metropolitana has the original statues from the façade
of the duomo (by Pisano). The Maesta by Duccio is also in this
museum and is a must see. Just below the cathedral/duomo is
the baptistery/Battistero di San Giovanni (14th
century). Here you will find fabulous frescoes and a font by
Jacopo della Quercia. The Pinacoteca Nazionale is a gallery
with a large collection of Sienese paintings (really very beautiful).
The Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala (once a hospital)
has some frescoes by Domenico di Bartolo and also houses the
Museo Archeologico with Etruscan and Roman finds. The
Basilica di San Domenico is worth a look too. It’s
a 13th century Gothic church with a crenellated campanile
(bell tower). Inside is a painting of St. Catherine of Siena
(she took her vows here). There are frescoes by Sodoma depicting
her (St. Catherine) life in the Cappella di Santa Caterina.
Her "head" is contained in the tabernacle on the altar
of the chapel. The Casa di Santa Caterina (the house
where she was born) was made in to small chapels in the 15th
century and they are decorated with paintings and frescoes.
There’s a permanent wine exhibition in the Forte di
Santa Barbara, the Enoteca Italica. The 13th
century Sant’Agostino is worth a look for its interior
(rather ornate), its frescoes in the choir stalls and the Coronation
of the Virgin by Pollaiuolo (15th century) are above
the altar. Just wander the town, you’ll find shops, galleries,
cafes and churches of great interest. Market day is on Wednesday
in Siena.