Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions.

Piazza del Piazza del DuomoDuomo

Piazza del Piazza del CampoCampo

Siena retains a ward-centric culture from medieval times. Each ward (contrada) is represented by an animal or mascot, and has its own boundary and distinct identity. Ward rivalries are most rampant during the annual horse race (Palio) in the Piazza del Campo

The  Contrada of the Ram "Valdimontone“ Motto: "Under my blow, the great wall crumbles"Significance: Perseverance

Pantera

The Basilica of San Domenico, also known as Basilica Cateriniana, begun in 1226-1265, but was enlarged in the 14th century, contains several relics of St. Catherine of Siena, whose family house is nearby

Saint Catherine of Siena (1347- 1380) from Dominican Order, was and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France, and to establish peace among the Italian city-states.

She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

Saint Catherine of Siena is one of the two patron saints of Italy, together with Francis of Assisi.

Image Internet

The House of St. Catherine of Siena is in Fontebranda, the area in the heart of the Contrada dell'Oca, who owes its name to the most famous fountain in Siena, but is better known as the place of birth of Saint Catherine, the famous Sienese mystic who died in 1380, was canonised in 1461, and named doctor of the church in 1970.

Contrada dell'Oca Patron Saint and Feast Day: St Catherine of Siena, 29 April. The Contrada celebrates her during the month of May

Labelled 'the mystic of politics', Saint Catherine fought corruption in the church, and managed to convince the pope, who was seated in Avignon, to restore the papal seat to Rome. Her letters or 'epistolorio' are famous for being charged with passion and religious fervour, in which she addresses the pope and the rulers of half of Europe.

Her house of birth, bought by the Council of Siena in 1466, was transformed into a real sanctuary, where precious works are kept, as well as records of the saint.

The portico through which one enters the house today, was built in 1941, while the well in the travertine is original (end of the 1400s, beginning of the 1500s).

The head of the Saint is kept on the altar in the Chapel of Saint Catherine, inside the Basilica of San Domenico.

Chiesa Santa Petronilla, Viale Cavour

Via di Poggio, il “portone” di Duomo

Battistero di San Giovanni

Battistero di San Giovanni called also Pieve di San Giovanni, located on the side of the Duomo down the stairs, houses some of the very finest works of art in Siena.

Basilica di San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi

Piazza Matteoti

The current Piazza dei Salimbeni (Salimbeni Square) is the result of heavy restoration carried out at the end of the 800s by the architect Giuseppe Partini, that altered its general image, building on and adding new structures, in the neo-gothic style of the time.

At the back of the square, the ninth century façade (by Partini) of the Salimberi Fortress stands out, one of the most imposing, complex and strengthened fortresses of medieval Siena

Home of the great Salimbeni family until they were hunted from Siena and their possessions confiscated (in 1419), the fortress passed to the Council and finally, in 1866, it was sold to Monte dei Paschi. The fortress hosts a notable collection of works of art, that is widening thanks to the same Monte dei Paschi

At the centre of the square is the monument to Sallustio Bandini, the work of Tito Sarrochi, in 1880.

Sallustio Antonio Bandini (1677 –1760) was the founder of the Library of Siena, the Biblioteca Comunale

To the right of the Palazzo Salimbeni is the Palazzo Spannocchi, built by Ambrogio Spannocchi, Treasurer to Pope Pius II; the architect was Giuliano da Maiano. This elegant Renaissance building is fronted by loggias of 1880 by Giuseppe Partini .

via Banchi di Sopra

Piazza Tolomei, at the centre of which is a column with the famous Sienese Wolf (1610), is dominated by the splendid Palazzo Tolomei.

Image Internet

On the opposite side of the square the neo-classical façade of the church of Saint Christopher stands out. The church is among the oldest in Siena, and between the twelfth and thirteenth century was the seat of the great Council of the Republic, the Council of the Bell.

The church was notably damaged by the earthquake of 1798. The cloister annex, probably from the beginning of the 1200s, was also heavily altered during the restoration of 1921.

church of Saint Christopher

Piazza del Campo is really the heart and soul of the city, where everything happened and continues to happen

The piazza took shape at the end of the 1200s, on a space that was for a long time used for fairs and markets and was situated at a crossroad of important streets.

Sound: Il DivoAmazing GracePassera

Text: InternetPictures: Daniela IacobArangement: Sanda Foişoreanu