Landmarks of Siena. A Brief History of Siena. Historical and cultural sights of the city of Siena in Italy

Siena is a beautiful ancient city that is saturated with the Middle Ages and very reverently preserves the old Italian traditions created many centuries ago. The city, like many ancient settlements, is located on hills. When studying Siena from a bird's eye view, one gets the feeling that these are three different small settlements located too close to each other. Such a division was also used in the Middle Ages, highlighting three uniform thirds, one for each hill. Each part had 5-7 districts, independent of each other. Surprisingly, these areas still exist today. Moreover, each district of Siena still has its own flag and coat of arms.

It is enough to visit the city of Siena in Italy once to understand with what fanaticism the traditions of the country are honored here and how reverently they treat every little detail in the rituals. Some historians believe that it was the traditions that preserved the Gothic look of the buildings, the surroundings of the streets and a lot of sights in Siena.

History of the city of Siena.

A small settlement was founded by the ancient Romans, although the Etruscan settlement of Senoni already existed on this territory. During the reign of Ottavian Augustus, the city was recognized as a colony of Saena Julia. As you know, many settlements in the old days were given symbolic names in accordance with geographical features or certain events that occurred on the ground, and Siena in Italy is no exception. In ancient Roman, this word meant a remote military colony.

A serious historical event was the military battle between the Saena colony and Florence, where the former won a crushing victory in 1260. After this triumphant event, the city began to grow. A few decades later, the first equestrian competitions were held here, which are observed in our time. They were held annually on July 2 and August 16 and were considered the most significant event in the city of Siena. Almost all important events since then have been held only on main square, which closes the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall, which still serves as an administration). This building is now dominated by a 30-story tower. The town hall and tower were made of clean, polished brick and white travertine.

In 1555, the city passed into the power of Florence, however, the proud and free people of Siena in Italy did not accept this submission. Since then, little has changed in the city. Over the past century, several dozen houses have been built here, which slightly spoil the overall picture of the ancient city, saturated with a Gothic atmosphere. But those same three hills are still saturated with the spirit of the Middle Ages.

The symbol of Siena is Rem with a she-wolf and Romulus. According to local legend, Rem had two children, Senio and Askio. Both brothers stole this painting from Romulus and tried to hide from persecution. Realizing that the return to the city promises them death as well as their father, the children hid on a hill and, afraid to go out into the light, died of hunger. Siena was soon founded on this hill.

Sights of Siena

Upon arrival in the city, one gets the impression that the city was built up 3-5 centuries ago and has not changed. There are no traces of buildings from earlier eras at all, and buildings built even in the 18-19 centuries are very striking, although there are no more than fifty of them here. Roads, as well as courtyards, are made of stone in most houses. Green spaces and flowers flaunt only in special pots. The streets are very narrow and it is very difficult to drive here by car. The entry of cars into the oldest districts of the city is completely prohibited, and if you ignore this law, you will be fined, which is unlikely to be cheaper than a tourist trip.

Sien is not as big as they say, but seeing it, one gets the feeling that you have passed through a time portal. All the sights of Siena are concentrated in one part of the city, but there are so many of them that it is unlikely that you will be able to see everything in one day.

The best way to get to Siena is from Florence. This road will help to fully smooth your transition into the past. You can get to the city of Siena in Italy and more affordable transport - by train, however, it travels as much as an hour and a half. Upon arrival at the station, you can find many buses that pass by the central Piazza del Campo.

The area has its own separate legend and is translated from the ancient language as a field territory. A few centuries ago, this square was nothing more than a field that was located directly under the main building of the PalazzoPubblico. In the old days, the Council of the Siena Republic met here. Now the city hall is located here.

Piazza del Campo is a very unusual place. Just look at her shape. It will be difficult to find one like it in the world. It has the shape of a bowl. And some guides compare it with a shell. The gigantic territory of the square is laid out of various tones of red brick in such a way as to divide it into nine sectors. This division of the area has its own history.

As is known from history. Sien had 17 districts. Each of them had their own coat of arms, flag and animal, which was a symbol of their territory. At meetings and any events, residents of the districts lined up in the appropriate sectors (2 districts per sector). The square, concave into the ground, allowed the townspeople to look at the speaker without interference and hear everyone who was in the center.

Bell towers and cathedrals, extending in all directions from the center, are striking from afar thanks to alternating stripes of dark and light marble. But the most notable is the Manja Tower, located in Piazza del Campo. She is like a burning pink candle gleaming under the morning rays sunlight. In the evening, when the sun begins to set, the streets of Siena are shrouded in darkness and only Siena is visible on the horizon.

The height of the tower is 88 meters. Anyone can visit the tower for a modest fee. After climbing over 500 steps, you can reach the top and admire the surroundings of the city from above. If such a climb seems difficult for you or if you don’t want to waste time, we advise you to go along a narrow street further down the course and get straight into the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin.

Seeing the cathedral with your own eyes, it is difficult to resist delight. The walls of the temple are lined with a lacy white marble facade with admixtures of green and pink hues. On sunny days, you can watch the heavenly surface play on a huge window above the front doors in the cathedral.

Inside the cathedral is no less beautiful than outside. The columns stretching to the ceiling are decorated with a black and white marble composition. The floor in all the rooms of the cathedral is paved with mosaics, the dome is made of pure gold, and the Piccolomini section of the library with a multi-colored ceiling houses many ancient, amazing frescoes. The library was named after Pope Pius II. He was the son of a banker and hailed from the area.

According to historical information, the cathedral was going to be expanded in the 14th century in order to be on a par with competing Florence and outshine Santa Maria dei Fiori with its cathedral. However, the plague epidemic that descended on the lands of Siena in 1348 destroyed all plans. This is even still evidenced by the unfinished part of the facade on the south side.

A visit to the cathedral is also paid. By purchasing a ticket, you can visit not only the cathedral itself, but also the museum at the cathedral. In the museum you can see the famous Maesta altar, which has been standing here since the Middle Ages.

In addition to visiting the many sights of Siena, you should definitely get here for cultural events, holidays or theatrical performances that take place in the city. It is difficult to find such an active people who welcome all tourists with joy and goodwill these days.

You can visit this gloomy, gothic city full of medieval values, rituals and customs with the company site. We invite you to go on a full-fledged journey through the narrow streets of ancient Siena, which smells of knightly duels and ancient buildings. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting Siena if you are a fan of the Middle Ages.

Siena has retained its ancient appearance better than other Italian cities. Even the inhabitants of the new quarters, spread out outside the medieval walls, gravitate towards the old center. And in it everything is as it was in the XIII-XIV centuries.

It seems that Siena was built up immediately, “overnight”: there are very few traces of earlier eras, buildings of a later period are not striking. Stone courtyards, where, if there is greenery, it is only in pots... Narrow streets over which darkened houses hang... Only in some places the old paving stones have been replaced by modern asphalt... Bell towers, the bulk of the cathedral, in which horizontal stripes of dark and light marble... In the very center of the city, on Piazza del Campo, like a pink candle, the Manja tower rises... Parishioners pray in churches painted six or seven centuries ago. Cars are not allowed to enter the old quarters.

Modern Siena - small town, the center of the province in the region of Tuscany, but the influx of tourists here is such that it would be a problem for the recognized centers of Italian culture - say, Florence or Milan. Thousands of people come here every year from all over Italy to admire the amazing "reserve" of the Middle Ages. Siena lies in hilly terrain, which from time immemorial was inhabited by hardworking peasants. Generation after generation irrigated the rocky land of Tuscany, the labor of people, multiplied for centuries, nourished the soil with fertility, and now it is one of the leading agricultural regions of the Apennine Peninsula.

Siena was founded by the Romans, who, on the site of the Etruscan settlement of Senoni, built during the reign of Ottavian Augustus the military colony of Saena Giulia. The development of Siena was greatly influenced by two factors: the remoteness of the city from the main roads and the proximity of its rival, Florence. The culmination of the war with Florence was the famous Battle of Montepearti (September 4, 1260), where Siena won a triumphant victory. At the same time, the city grew significantly. It was free city- a commune, a city - a republic, where the tradition of holding equestrian competitions between representatives of the districts of the city - Contrada and Palio is still preserved.

Piazza del Campo, one of the most charming squares in Europe, offers complete harmony in the varied stylistic performance of its palaces, which have changed over the centuries. In the center is a herringbone pavement, divided by strips of travertine (lime tufa) into nine sectors diverging like a fan, in memory of the Government of the Nine Seniors, which controlled the fate of the city from 1285 to 1355. Almost all the most important events, happy or sad, in the history of Siena, first during the existence of the Republic, then, from 1555, under the rule of Florence Medici. This unexpected submission was never accepted by the proud and free Sienese.
The most striking event in which this square is the main character of the city remains the Palio - the horse races that take place in this square on July 2 and August 16 of each year - a tradition deeply rooted in the heart of every Sienese.
Closes the square of the Palazzo Publico (Palazzo Commune), built in 1297-1342. The building, built for the city government, to this day serves as the town hall. Above it rises the 100-meter tower of Torre di Mangia. The entire building and tower are made of brick and white travertine.

The she-wolf with Romulus and Remus is the symbol of Siena. Legend has it that the brothers Askio and Senio, the children of Remus, fleeing the persecution of Romulus, brought this image with them from a Roman house, which symbolized the lost fatherland, and hid on this Tuscan hill, where the city of Siena was later founded.

From Piazza Campo along Via di Citta you can come to the Cathedral. But you can not pass by the bulk of the Palazzo Chigi Saracini, stone, with brick trim. This Sienese Gothic building was built in the 14th century. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the palazzo was transformed into concert hall. Nearby rises the grandiose Palazzo Piccolomini, where the Bank of Italy is located. This is the most perfect example of Florentine Renaissance architecture.
Siena Cathedral shocking. Its majestic western façade, designed by Giovanni Pisano, is a superb example of Italian Gothic architecture. It perfectly complements the more austere Romanesque nave and high campanile (bell tower). The cathedral stands in an open area and dominates the surrounding buildings. Marches of stairs lead to it from three sides.

The laying of the cathedral dates back to the 1220s. In its place was an older building. In 1245, Nicolò Pisano was invited to build the western façade, which, for unknown reasons, was destroyed 40 years later, and Nicolò's son Giovanni Pisano set about implementing his version of the façade. He managed to complete only its lower part. Construction was in full swing when, in the late 1340s, smallpox epidemics hit Europe, killing about a third of the townspeople, and the construction of the cathedral was postponed for 20 years.

In the 1360s, artists were invited to complete the stained glass windows in the chancel. At the same time, work began on the mosaic floor of the nave. By the end of the 14th century, the transepts were enlarged, the altar part was expanded, and a beautiful dome was completed. The cathedral has the shape of a Latin cross in plan.

Campanile, built in the 13th century, is one of the most memorable elements of the cathedral. Stripes of dark and light marble alternate on the surface of its volume. In Tuscany, unlike the northern regions of Italy, there is a lot of this building material, and the Tuscans used it widely. The narrow, square tower looks thinner than it actually is. Rectangular openings are cut into the thickness of the walls of the multi-tiered volume of the campanile, increasing in width as they rise upwards. Thin columns are inserted into them, the number of which increases with height - from one to six in the upper tier. The campanile is completed by a pyramidal dome, surrounded by four turrets at the corners, above the cornice of the upper tier.

The bell tower suppresses the beautiful Romanesque dome above the crossroads, despite its impressive size: 54 meters high and 16 meters in diameter. A lantern girded with black and white stripes crowns the dome. Full-length figures of saints, dating back to the 15th century, are located along the perimeter of the roof on striped semi-columns.

Powerful striped columns stretch the entire length of the central nave and compete in beauty with the inlaid floor covering the entire area of ​​the eight naves of the basilica. The inlaid floor in the cathedral is the pride of Siena. In addition to a variety of geometric ornaments, it features more than 50 scenes from the Bible and classical literature. The most impressive are "The Death of Absalom" and "Massacre of the Innocents". The inlaid floor was completed in 1547.

Columns 18 meters high carry powerful Romanesque arches and ceiling vaults, where silver stars glow against a blue background. Stained glass windows in a huge rose window in the east and western parts buildings cast bright reflections on the colorful floor.
From the left side of the Cathedral Square stretches a long perspective of the Palazzo Arcivescoville (Palace of the Archbishop). Previously, until 1660, it was the home of the Rector of the Cathedral Museum and the canons.

Opposite the cathedral is the same long facade of the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital. The foundation of this most powerful charitable institution, one of the oldest in Europe, dates back to the 9th century. Its founders were the canons of the Cathedral.

The imposing bulk of the church of San Agostino, which, especially in the apse, retained the simplicity of Romanesque forms, was founded in the middle of the 13th century. In the 15th century, the temple was expanded and reconstructed. The interior of the church impresses with numerous altars painted by Sienese artists of the 14th - 18th centuries.

Fontebranda - a place whose name comes from the most famous source of Siena; but it is even more known in every corner Catholic world the birthplace of Catherine Benincasa, a Sienese saint whose inspiring religious fervor surprised even Pope Gregory XI.

She was born in 1347 in the family of Jacopo di Benincasa, a fabric dyer, and Monna Lapa Piagenti. The name of Catherine is especially associated with the history of the papal throne, which was centered in Avignon, and the Sienese saint tried to do everything possible to return it to Rome. Her "Collected Letters" are world-famous, full of flaming mystical passion, addressed as from equal to equal - to the popes, kings and ruling dynasties of Europe. Catherine died on April 29, 1380 in Rome. She was canonized in 1461, and in 1939 she was proclaimed Patron Saint of Italy. Catherine's home was acquired by the Commune of Siena in 1466.

This acquisition was made at the request of the inhabitants of Fontebrand, who asked for the house of their Saint to turn it forever into a place of popular worship. Later, the Brotherhood of St. Catherine turned the house into a real shrine, full of memorabilia of St. Catherine and amazing works of art.

The construction of the Basilica of San Domenico and the Dominican monastery was started on the small hill of Camporeggio around 1225. In the middle of the next century, the church was greatly expanded, as evidenced by the Gothic structure of the central nave and transept. The interior of the church appears with a wooden ceiling on the rafters and only one large nave, according to the monastic canons of the Order of Preachers, so that nothing separates the faithful and the preacher.
Palazzo Tolomei on the square of the same name (which remembers the famous Tolomei family, constantly defending its dominance in the city) - a type of fortified dwelling that appeared after the fortified castle that had disappeared by that time, where in 1290 almost 120 families united and organized the so-called "Tolomei Clique" . Despite the devastating fire of 1277, the wonderful building, undoubtedly one of the noblest buildings in all of Siena, is well preserved.

The construction of the Basilica of San Francesco on the hill of Castellaccia di Ovile began in 1228. Since 1326, the church has been expanded several times. From the old Romanesque building, only the facade and the right wing have been preserved. The altar was rebuilt.

The city gate of Porta Cammolia is the most fortified gate of Siena. They were built in 1604 by Alessandro Casolani. Above the arch on the outer side of the gate is the famous saying in honor of the entrance to Siena by Ferdinand I of the Medici: "More than a gate, Siena opens its heart to you." This saying has become a symbol of courtesy and hospitality in Siena.
The Roman Gate is the largest among all the gates of Siena. The grandiose defensive fortification, decorated with two stone she-wolves on consoles, was built in 1467.

Senius fled from the persecution of Romulus, who killed Remus, and found shelter in these parts. Since then, the Roman she-wolf has become the symbol of Siena.
The picturesque territories were liked by the Etruscans, who founded their city here. Later, the Romans conquered it, founding a colony under the emperor Octavian Augustus. Saena lulia.
The road leading through Siena to Rome contributed to the development of commercial and trade relations. In the X century the city became an important center. In the following centuries, Siena grew, new buildings were built, profitable alliances were concluded. The city has always been in excellent relations with the Papal States, which had a good effect on the economic situation. The only obstacle to the further prosperity of Siena was a strong neighbor in the person of the eternal rival Florence.
In the XII century, Tuscany was torn apart by a showdown between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. And Siena also became a theater of war and intrigue.
The 13th century brought the maximum peak of cultural and economic development cities.
But in 1348, a terrible plague broke out, which mowed down most population. From this blow, the Republic of Siena could not recover, its slow decline began.
In 1472, the oldest operating bank in Italy and the world, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, was established in Siena.
April 21, 1555 was the last day of the Republic of Siena. For more than a year, Siena was under a state of siege, but due to hunger, she was forced to surrender to Florence and become part of the Duchy of Tuscany.
In 1624, the University was opened in Siena, which is considered one of the oldest in Italy.
In 1737, Jean Gaston de Medici died, he left no heirs, and power passed to the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
1799-1800 went down in history as the Napoleonic period.
In 1859, Siena became part of the united Italy, becoming the first Tuscan city to join the young state.

Most of the buildings and structures in Siena date back to the 12th-14th centuries. Duccio, the brothers Lorenzetti and Simone Martini decorated the streets with beautiful architectural structures. In the 15th century, when the role of Siena became less significant, and the economic situation worsened, construction slowed down, new buildings were practically not erected, which played into the hands of modern tourists - Siena retained its medieval appearance, made up of narrow streets, stone houses and gloomy palazzos.
The city can be called a museum under open sky where it is easy and fun to study history by architectural elements, significant buildings and urban plan.

The central square of Siena is the famous Piazza del Campo. A huge fan diverges into nine segments, forming a shell of a characteristic shape.

In one of historical documents 1169 it says that the area is used as "fields for the Palio". Campo is Italian for "field". Until the end of the 13th century, fairs and festivals were held on the square, there was a violent trade, and its appearance little resembled the one we see now. In 1287, the government of the Nine decided to improve Siena, and the area was divided into two parts - piazza del Campo and piazza del Mercato - under the reconstruction plan. They erected the City Palace (Palazzo Communale), which became the residence of the mayor, and added a tower to it. The fountain was installed in 1346.
The government of Siena issued an aesthetically important law, according to which all facades must be made in the same style, have given gaps and distances, and be combined in architectural design.
At that time, an unusual shape of the square developed, on which the three main streets of Siena converged. The area is divided into nine sectors, in honor of the Government of the Nine, and separated from each other by white stripes. The diameter of the square was 333 meters.
In our time on Piazza del Campo passes the famous Siena Palio, i.e. races in which all quarters (contradas) of Siena participate. By the way, the square itself is a “neutral” territory and is not included in any of the contradas.

The eye is attracted by a red palazzo with a high tower. This is the city palace, erected in 1288-1309, in which the government of the Nine met. The power of the government of the Nine lasted from 1287 to 1355, despite being called "good government", this period ended with an economic crisis.
Inside the palazzo, the city museum is equipped, which contains an art collection of local creators.
a tower called Torre del Mangia, added in 1325. It is considered one of the highest in Italy. More precisely, it takes third place and has a height of 88 meters. (See "The highest bell towers in Italy").
In fact, the tower is a bell tower. Historically, the Siena bell is called mangia, from the verb mangiare, i.e. "There is". Because the first bell ringer was famous for his love for delicious food. And, despite the fact that he did not work for long, the name has survived to this day.
In 1798, a devastating earthquake struck Siena, but the tower remained unscathed.

In 1349, the first bell was erected on the tower, in 1666 it was replaced with a new one, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The huge bell weighs almost 7 tons. In the usual way, it is only when the Palio begins, which is a signal of the upcoming races. The rest of the time, a mechanical hammer strikes the bell.
Until 1425, the hammer was metal, and then it was replaced by a stone one, which is now stored in the Palazzo Comunale. The current hammer has been used since 1780.

Let's not rush to leave the square, among the numerous bars, restaurants and wineries, there are some other sights here.
At the foot of the tower is marble chapel, erected in 1352 in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for getting rid of the plague, the one that destroyed most of the population of Siena.
Attracts attention Fountain "Source of Joy", established in 1386. It became the first city fountain in Siena. Its name comes from the emotions experienced by the inhabitants. In 1409-19, the fountain was decorated with magnificent statues and reliefs by Jacopo della Quercia. Now we see copies made in 1868 by Tito Sarrochi.

Fountain "Source of Joy".

Let's go through Via del Porrionee.
In the quarter that delineate Via del Porrionee And Via di Salicotto, in the 16th century it was located Jewish ghetto. A characteristic feature is the narrow dark alleys, sloping streets and rows of stairs.

Sienna. Tuscany.

Sienna. Tuscany.

In 1929, during the era of fascism, some streets were redesigned, resulting in a mixture of architectural opposites.

Let's go to the ghetto Vicolo delle Scotte, which is a narrow and steep descent along which old buildings stand, connected by arches and vaults. House number 14 is located Synagogue.
Let's continue the route Via degli Archi (Street of the Arches) heading towards the city garden along a long and narrow alley Vicolo della Fortuna (Fortune Lane). Admire the nice view of the Manja tower and the Sienese rooftops.
Next, we will overcome the steep Vicolo di Codaci, which leads to Via di Salicotto- a long street that connects with piazza del Campo, but we will go in the opposite direction.
On this street open panoramas of Siena and the green valley.

Now we are in Contrada Tower (Torre). On one of the small squares you can see a symbol - an elephant with a tower on its back.

Contrada Tower

Siena is divided into 17 contrades, i.e. quarters. In the XIII century there were 23 of them, each of them was supposed to provide food for the troops. At present, the contrades have remained as administrative units within which significant events are celebrated, such as a child, a wedding or a funeral. Each contrada has its own museum, symbol, flag, fountain, church and square.

We go out to Via Pagliaresi, its name comes from the name of a noble family living here in the XIV century.

Approximately in the middle of the street crosses a dead end Jewelers Lane (Vicolo degli Orefici). It is buried in greenery and flowers, shelters from the sun with stone arches and old houses, but the most interesting is at the end of the alley. The medieval pipeline system has been preserved here.

The medieval pipeline of Siena (pictured top left).

We will return from the alley to Via Pagliaresi.
From the street Via Pagliaresi turn right to via Roma and we'll get to roman gate whose construction began in 1327.
Nearby is the fence of the former psychiatric hospital, built in the 19th century on the basis of the monastery of St. Nicholas.

Former psychiatric hospital and Roman Gate (left).

The hospital grew very quickly, the number of patients became more and more, so a real "city of madmen" soon appeared with streets, craft workshops, laundries and trattorias. Occupational therapy was a fundamental factor in the treatment. Until now, old signs and signs have been preserved, rusted from time to time.

Garden de' Pecci once belonged to a hospital. Now there is a vegetable garden and a mini-zoo in which the ever-hungry donkey lives. He enjoys eating carrots and grass, so take some treats with you if you decide to visit the zoo.

Garden de Pecci.

We will leave the territory of the former psychiatric hospital and go back a little along the street along which we came before the first turn to the left (Via Val di Montone). A steep climb with stairs leads us to Basilica of San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi.

Servites, i.e. monks of the Order of the Servants of the Virgin Mary appeared in Siena around 1250. At first they settled on the outskirts, outside the city walls, but the temple was erected inside the walls on the site of the current church of San Clemente. The construction of the basilica lasted three centuries, resulting in an architectural mix of different styles. Inside, frescoes of the 14th century and artistic canvases of the 13th-14th centuries have been preserved.

Starts from the church via del Sole (Sunny Street), which goes down. It leads to the second entrance to the garden de "Stove, but we will go further, overcoming a slight rise and exit to market square(Piazza del Mercato).

From the square, a steep climb awaits us. Via del Casato, which is one of the main streets of ancient Siena. It is divided into two parts - Sotto (lower) and Sopra (upper), at the point of division, the street turns left. Around are typical medieval houses.

Sienna. Italy.

IN lane Vicolo dei Percennesi one can find characteristic Ghibelline dovetail crenellations adorning the walls. This is the only place in Siena.

Via Casato di Sopra displays on via P. A. Mattioli.
At the crossroads you can see Turtle contrada fountain. During our route we passed through several contradas. But an observant traveler will notice that each contrada is distinguished by lanterns and small plaques on the walls of houses.

On the right side of the street is Siena Pinakothek.
And on the left - Church of St. Augustine (Prato di Sant "Agostino) in the meadow of the same name. Once the meadow was called "Ivy Road" (Via della Lellera), since all the buildings were wrapped in ivy - “lellera” in the local dialect. Saint Augustine's Meadow is a forested area overlooking the Valdimontone valley.
The Church of St. Augustine contains valuable artwork, including frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Francesco di Giorgio Martini and one of the oldest organs in Siena.

Let's go back by Via P. A. Mattioli, in front of the Pinakothek turn left, via Castelvecchi will lead to via Stalloreggi, here to the left.
Let's go long Via del Fosso di Sant'Ansano.

Sienna. Italy.

Ditch of St. Ansan, as the name of the street is translated from Italian. According to legend, the patron saint Siena Ansan escaped martyrdom here. The saint was sentenced to death and had to be boiled in boiling oil, but he came out of the cauldron unharmed. The pagans did not stop there and beheaded Saint Ansan.
From the ground where his head fell, a source of holy water gushed forth.

From here we can already see the bell tower of the Cathedral, to which we are heading.
Piazzetta della Selva, stairs up Vicolo di San Girolamo, to the right Via dei Fusari and go out to the square Piazza del Duomo.

On Duomo Square immediately attracts attention Cathedral.

It was erected in the 12th century, although it is quite possible that a church existed on this site earlier. In 1313, a bell tower 77 meters high was added. A little later, the cathedral was expanded.
The facade of the Cathedral is covered with white marble with decorative elements made of red and green marble designed by Giovanni Pisano in the Romanesque-Gothic style.
Now the cathedral is a museum that amazes with wealth and splendor.
We will not dwell on each masterpiece, there are too many of them, we will note only a few.

In the left nave in the Piccolomini altar are the work of a young Michelangelo: St. Peter and St. Pius - on the left, St. Paul and St. Gregory the Great - on the right. Michelangelo at this time began to receive more important orders, so the altar was left unfinished.
In the right nave in the chapel of San Giovanni Battista - a sculpture of St. Jon Batista works by Donatello. Chapel of the Madonna del Voto completed designed by Bernini, there are also statues of the work of the great sculpture - St. Mary Magdalene and St. Jerome.
Of particular interest is the floor of the cathedral, made in the technique of inlay. I would like to dwell on it in more detail.

“The most magnificent and luxurious floor ever made,” Vasari said of the floor of the Cathedral of Siena.
But the floor strikes not only with beauty, but also with the mystery of its esoteric symbols resembling tarot cards. Immediately make a reservation that we are not talking about all the squares.
The floor consists of 56 inlaid panels: marble tiles of different colors, which depict figures related to Christianity and paganism. It is not known why all this was placed on the floor of the cathedral. But it is clear that this was done with great love for the symbols.
The work took place in the period from 1369 to 1547. 40 masters worked on them. The floor was badly damaged by the feet of millions of visitors. The panels were completely restored (we read, remade) in 1839.

Inspection route:

central nave: 5 squares are noteworthy: Hermes Trismegistus (1488, Giovanni di Stefano); Siena wolf with symbols of allied cities (author unknown, redesigned by Leopoldo Maccari in 1864-65); Imperial Eagle (original dated to the 14th century, author unknown, alteration after 1865); Allegory of the Hill of Wisdom (1505, Bernardino di Betto, called Pintoricchio); Wheel of Fortune.

A labyrinth is depicted in a large square, on a black background is the figure of the Wise Man in a hat with a yellow border. The square dates from 1488 by Giovanni di Stefano.
At this time, they were fond of the works of Greek and Latin humanists. The sage is Hermes Trismegistus (Mercury). This is confirmed by the inscription: HERMIS MERCURIUS TRIMEGISTUS.

With his right hand, he passes an open book to a barbarian in a turban in clothes with a red border (a symbol of Eastern wisdom?). Behind him stands another character wrapped in a white tunic (symbol of the West?).

The most old tiles the one that is shown Sienese She-Wolf surrounded by symbols of allied cities (1373).
The she-wolf feeds the twins Seno and Askio, depicted on a red background. Roman heritage Siena.
Allied cities that were founded in the time of Tuscia are depicted on a black background: Perugia (stork), Viterbo (unicorn), Orvieto (goose), Arezzo (horse), Florence (lion), Lucca (panther), Pisa (hare), Rome (elephant).
The whole plot is enclosed in a large square, in the four corners of which there are animal symbols: a griffin - Grosseto, an eagle - Volterra, a dragon - Pistoia, a lion with lilies - Massa Marittima.

Square with imperial eagle: a huge white wheel on a black background, inscribed in a red square. In the center is the Eagle, which symbolizes the maximum power in the Middle Ages.

Allegory Hill of Wisdom. This is where colors play a big role. White is the path, gray is the surging sea, black is the earth, red is the Hill of Knowledge.
The pilgrims ascending the hill were frozen in various poses. In a yellow-black turban, he sleeps, clutching a closed book to himself. Another in a yellow cap with a strange object in his hands turns to Fortuna.
One brought a stick that resembles a tau cross - the St. Anthony's cross. The first in line crawls on his knees, he is already almost at the goal and sees a female figure on the throne, which personifies Knowledge.
The "wise men" also go this way, they must help Fortune, who is depicted as a naked woman on the right with a sail in her hands. On the left is the cornucopia.
Snakes, turtles, various animals also follow the path.
The meaning of the square: the path to virtue is difficult and difficult, then whoever is persistent will be rewarded.

Square Wheel of Fortune depicted on a red background inscribed in a rhombus. A king in white robes on a throne with a sphere in his hands, which symbolizes power over the world and a scepter in his other hand. 4 ancient philosophers are depicted in hexagons outside the range of the wheel.

In the side aisles, ten images of the Sibyls can be found, among them the Sibyl of Cuma with her famous books.

Let's proceed further:
Herod's Hunt (1485, Benvenuto di Giovanni); Road of the Innocents (1482, Matteo di Giovanni); History of Judith (1473, Francesco di Giorgio Martini); History of Samson (perhaps 1426, Stefano di Giovanni called detto "il Sassetta").
Directly below the dome, which symbolizes the sky, is a huge hexagon, which is a symbol of the earth.

Coming out of the Cathedral, we will see a long facade of red brick - this former hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, one of the oldest in Europe. Now located here museum complex, which houses archaeological and artistic exhibits.
Near Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista built in the first half of the 14th century. Here are stored sculptural work the great masters of the Italian Renaissance - Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Japoco della Quercia.

From the main entrance to the cathedral, turn right onto via Pellegrini, Further Via delle Terme, where in the era ancient rome there were thermae.
Let's follow the signs to Sanctuary of Saint Catherine, which is located on Costa di Sant'Antonio.

Here, in 1347, Catherine Benincasa was born, canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. Saint Catherine of Siena is one of the most revered Catholic saints and the main patroness of Italy, known for writing more than 400 letters in mystical ecstasy, possessing a “divine mark” - “invisible” stigmata, flying during prayer and having a significant influence on church politics.

The wall of the house opposite is decorated with the image of the Madonna and the Goose. That's right, we're in Goose's contrade.

Sienna. Italy.

From here it's very close to Basilica of Saint Dominic, located on the square of the same name, signs lead to it from the sanctuary. This is one of the most important churches Siena.

Basilica of Saint Dominic. Sienna. Italy.

The basilica was erected in the 13th century, it houses important relic - the head of St. Catherine of Siena. (The relics of the saint are in Rome in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva).
Dominican friars appeared in Siena in 1220. A few years later they were given land to build a church. Later, the basilica was expanded and gave it Gothic features.
The church houses numerous artistic works of interest.
Portrait of Catherine of Siena by her friend Andrea Vani, by Sodom, Giovanni di Stefano and others.

The area around the basilica is rich in water sources. In the Middle Ages, craftsmen working with fabrics - spinners, dyers - settled here. For example, the father of St. Catherine, whose house was nearby, was a dyer. An abundance of water is a necessary condition for their work. Going down from the Basilica of St. Dominic, you can see fontebrand fountain (in the photo above, at the foot of the hill, you can see a beautiful building with three arches and a lancet decoration on top), built in the 13th century in the wall separating the contradas of the city.
Giovanni di Stefano built a travertine fountain, which has survived to this day. But at this place the fountain existed before, there are references to it in Dante's Divine Comedy.
Water is collected in three baths, closed by arches. From the first bath, water could be drunk, the second bath served to quench the thirst of animals, and the third - the lowest - for washing. In addition, the water from the fountain was used for mills and dyeing fabrics. Now every half an hour the fountain "speaks", making the sounds of Siena of the XIV century.

If you went down to the fountain, then climb back to the Basilica of St. Dominic, from here a wide alley viale dei Mille along the stadium leads to Medici fortresses (Fortezza Medicea).
The Medici fortress known as Fort Saint Barbara was built in 1561-63. by order of the Florentine Duke Cosimo I de' Medici.
The citadel, which was located on this site before, withstood numerous attacks of enemies, on April 21, 1555, after a year-long siege, it surrendered. Cosimo I ordered the construction of a new fortress, the project was developed by the architect Baldasar Lanci. Until the 18th century The fortress performed a military role, after which it was opened to the public. In 1937 the citadel was restored and turned into a city park. Now there is a wine cellar, exhibitions and concerts (for example, Siena Jazz) are held here.
The Enoteca Italiana, located in the fortress, is one of the largest in Italy. In the ancient cellars there is a museum where significant wines from all regions of Italy are presented (the entrance to the museum is free), you can taste wines in the bar, seminars and master classes are constantly held in the vinotheque. (PS: in 2017 the enoteca was closed.)

If you can break away from the great Tuscan wines, then we have last point of the route - the Basilica of St. Francis and its Eucharistic miracle.

From the fortress through a green square with a sculpture of two horses (and in Siena everything "screams" about Palio), we find via Montenini, along it we go to the intersection with via Rossi, which leads to Basilica of Saint Francis of Siena on Piazza San Francesco.
The Basilica of Saint Francis is one of the most important religious buildings in Siena. The basilica was built in the 13th century. in the Romanesque style, later it was given Gothic features.
The Eucharistic miracle is associated with the Basilica of St. Francis.
In 1730, thieves stole from St. Francis' Church Siena a silver altar-bearer, in which liturgical bread (prosphora) was kept. The search continued for three days, after which the stolen item was found in the church of Santa Maria di Provenzano in Siena in an alms box. The following day, a procession carried the prosphora back to St. Francis, where they remain to this day.
In 1780, they conducted an examination to make sure that these were the very real prosphora. It was then that a miracle was recorded, consisting in the unusual preservation of consecrated bread, which had not changed in any way for 50 years and remained fresh.
A reliable and incorruptible commission checked the prosphora and in 1789, 1889, 1815, 1854, 1914, 1922. And each time she made sure that 223 prosphora were in excellent condition, initially there were 351 prosphora.
In 1950, the prosphora was placed in a new precious ark.

Palio
From the 12th century it was divided into three parts, thirds, converging on the central square. In turn, thirds were subdivided into 17 contrades, autonomous regions, in fact, having the status of separate towns, each was assigned its own flag and coat of arms with the image of a patron animal.
This division still exists, along with traditions that have come from ancient times. The inhabitants of different contradas have been competing with each other since ancient times, and devotion to one's contrada sometimes reaches fanaticism.
The main event in which district rivalry reaches its peak is taking place in Siena on July 2 and August 16, the annual equestrian competition - Palio.
Each contrada exhibits its own horse with a rider in a medieval costume, but only ten contradas are selected for the race, competitions are held on Piazza del Campo, specially covered with sand for this occasion.
Twice a year Siena covered by a fever locals and tourists are waiting for the decisive moment. In front of the Palio, in the church of each contrada, a service is held, at which riders are present along with horses, at the end of the service, the priest proclaims: "Go and return in victory!"
But only one of them will return with victory, ensuring the glory of his contrada until the next Palio. Various events take place before and after the races, such as dinners served on long tables right along the streets, costume parades and masquerades.

What to try in Siena:

Pasta is the most versatile and popular Italian dish. But each region of Italy has its own pasta, in Siena This pici- large spaghetti served with various sauces. Handmade pici are valued, they are usually produced in the north of the province of Siena.
Vegetable soup - ribollita (ribollita) a great dish for vegetarians. However, many meat dishes, especially game - wild boar, hare, roe deer.
A special part is Sienese sweets, which are probably second only to Sicilian ones.
Famous Panforte (panforte)- gingerbread made from dried fruits, nuts and spices. In the classic version, Margarita is white, but it can be with chocolate, hot spices and many other variations.
Ricciarelli (Ricciarelli)- almond cakes, which appeared in the XIV century. at the Tuscan court. The legend mentions the cavalier Richardetto Della Gherardesca, who brought the recipe from the Crusade. The ricarellis are made for the sweet dessert wine Vin Santo, which is made from raisined grapes.
I would also like to mention tiramisu, the most famous Italian dessert. There is a version that tiramisu was first prepared in the 17th century. in Tuscany at the court of Cosimo II Medici.
Do not forget that Siena is practically in the zone of production of the most prestigious wines not only in Italy, but also in the world - Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano, Chianti, Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

As a rule, each locality in Italy is famous not only for its own cuisine, but also for its craft.
In Siena it's majolica. Pottery production existed here already in 1265. There were many workshops that made stemmed glasses decorated with floral and zoological motifs. And in 1510 they began to produce majolica, which was distinguished by its elegance and richness of decor. So a ceramic vessel from Siena, dating from 1510 is kept in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Stunningly beautiful thing.

Siena Italy - city view

Siena - old medieval city in northern Italy, located in the heart of the Tuscany region, 70 kilometers from and almost 200 kilometers from. This settlement, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, immediately immerses tourists in the atmosphere of past centuries. Houses made of terracotta bricks and local red clay, narrow winding streets and a lot of architectural masterpieces of eminent Italian masters of the Middle Ages make Siena unique and attract a huge number of guests from around the world. For several hundred years, the famous horse races called the "Siena Palio" have been held in the city on July 2 and August 16. It is very difficult to get to this large-scale event, but it is worth it - the races are accompanied by a grandiose festive festival.

Transport accessibility

There is an airport 10 kilometers from the city, used mainly for private flights. nearest international air port located in Florence. You can get to the city from there by train, bus or taxi. It is also possible to rent a car.

Being big tourist center, Siena has good intercity rail and bus connections with many cities in the country.

public transport in locality represented by buses, but taxis are the most popular.

Tourists should remember that in the city center, where the bulk of architectural sights are concentrated, car traffic is prohibited.

Climatic features

The region is dominated by a temperate climate, characterized by mild weather throughout the year, without the heat and frost present in many areas of Italy. In summer, the air warms up to +27…+30⁰C, and in the winter months, the thermometers drop to +10…+13⁰C, frosts are very rare. Spring is generally warm in Siena, but April and May account for half of the annual rainfall. The rest of the rain falls in the period December-February.

In order to take a leisurely walk around the city and appreciate all its beauty, summer and autumn are most suitable - this time has the maximum number of sunny days.

What to see

Arriving in an ancient medieval city, you should definitely walk along its historical center and see the main architectural masterpieces of the great masters. It is recommended to start exploring Siena from its main square, which flickers in the photo of every tourist - Piazza del Campo, made in the original form of a sea shell, from the center of which 11 main city streets diverge as rays. The appearance of this place has not changed for several centuries, it is here that the famous horse races, the Palio, are held throughout the country.

Piazza del Campo is also remarkable for its mass of architectural monuments - the facades of the main ancient buildings come out to the square. The first thing tourists pay attention to is the Palazzo Publico or the Palace of the Commune, which served in the 12th-16th centuries as a royal residence, then converted into the Town Hall, which still houses the city administration. On the left is one of highest towers Italy - a hundred-meter Torre del Mangia. The main purpose of this building is to commemorate significant events for Siena with a bell ringing. The construction of the tower began in 1328 and was completed 20 years later. During the construction of Torre del Mangia, several architects worked on the project, so the appearance of the tower does not have a single style. According to legend, during the construction of the tower, coins were inserted into its foundation for good luck, and at the base of each corner there are guarding stones with prayers in Latin and Hebrew, protecting it from natural disasters.

In the very center of Piazza del Campo, the Gaia Fountain of Joy flaunts, which has found its modern look at the beginning of the fifteenth century. The fountain is decorated with marble bas-reliefs and sculptures, and in the middle, among the angels, on the throne, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary with Jesus. In the 19th century, the original statues were placed in the Santa Maria della Scala Museum, and replicas were placed in their place.

The main religious symbol of Siena is the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, located on Cathedral Square. Its construction began in 1220 and ended almost a century and a half later. At the base of the temple is a Latin cross. The majestic facade is made of white, black and pink marble and decorated with numerous sculptural compositions. The cathedral is a real architectural masterpiece, in which several different styles of Gothic are mixed - Roman in the lower part, late in the upper, and the portals are French. At Cathedral the Opera del Duomo museum was opened with ancient stained-glass windows and the famous painting “Maesta”, written by Duccio di Buonisegno in 1311.

Services for tourists that will save or get more for the same money:

The Italian city of Siena (sometimes pronounced and written as Siena, which is actually closer to the original pronunciation in Italian) is one of the most famous and most visited by tourists cities in Italy. This time we arrived in Siena on a normal day and had the opportunity to get to know the city better. Last time, apart from that, we didn't see anything at all.

Siena has existed since the time of the Etruscans, the most beautiful and interesting city overflowing with attractions and events. There is evidence that a settlement on this site was already in the 9th century BC.

The legend says that Siena was founded by Senius and Askim, the sons of Rem, one of the famous twins fed by the Capitoline she-wolf. The city on a hill in Tuscany, where the brothers took refuge, was named after Senia. The coat of arms of Siena depicts Romulus and Remus being fed by a she-wolf.

In the Middle Ages, Siena flourished and was the capital of the powerful Republic of Siena. The masterpieces of architecture created at that time have been perfectly preserved and today are under the protection of UNESCO.

After the plague in 1348, when the city lost most of its inhabitants, Siena lost its power.

The area of ​​the Old Town in Siena is called Fontebranda. There is an unthinkable number of churches, the inspection of which will take more than one day.

Most high place cities - Cathedral Square(Piazza del Duomo), where the famous Siena Cathedral is located.

The streets of Siena are always very busy. Boutiques are located on the first floors of the buildings; tourists actively combine shopping with sightseeing.

All streets in Siena lead to Piazza del Campo - the main square of the city, which has an unusual shape, reminiscent of a shell sash.

The square is considered the first ensemble in Europe, created as the center of the social life of the city. A special decree of 1297 prescribed that the windows of buildings overlooking the square should be decorated in the same way.

In Piazza del Campo is luxury building made of brick and white travertine - the Publico Palace (palazzo Publico), built in the 14th century, which now houses the city municipality. The facade of the building is unique and has a concave shape. Tourists are allowed to enter the palace, on the ground floor there is a theater and a museum. We left this for next time.

Next time, we will certainly climb the Tower of Gluttony (Torre del Mangia), so called in memory of its first ringer, Giovanni di Balduccio, who became famous for his love of food. The inhabitants of Siena called di Duccio "mangiaguadagni" (eating earned money). Sometimes the tower is also called the Tower of the Glutton. The tower is considered to bring good luck to the city, because according to the traditions of that time, coins were embedded in its base. On the corners of the Tower of Gluttony there are inscriptions in Latin and Hebrew, which are designed to protect it from lightning. However, the inscriptions are not trusted too much, a huge lightning rod is also installed on the tower.

Proud Sienese always indicate the height of the tower of gluttony with a lightning rod (to make it higher) - 102 meters, this is officially the second highest medieval tower Italy (although the first is a reconstruction, and it can not be considered at all). It is advised to visit the tower closer to sunset to see Siena in golden light.

Since 1240, the University of Siena has existed, which makes the city forever young, because it is always full of students from all over the world who study science in the evenings, sitting right on the pavement of Piazza del Campo.

Siena is famous for its Palio races, which we visited a few years ago. This time we saw only the banners of the victorious contrado left after the races. Scarves with the symbols of contrade are sold in Siena on every corner.

I have been trying to buy such a scarf for a long time, but I can’t choose which one I like best ...

And in Siena, there are very beautiful painted ceramics, which are sold on every corner. And in Siena, amazing sweets are prepared according to old recipes, which we gorged ourselves on in the Nannini confectionery. And in Siena, palaces are on every corner ... And also ...

There are many different museums in Siena, this time we came across a museum of torture, but we didn’t go inside. This is the place where I don’t want to visit at all, although tourists always flock to such museums in droves ...

Surely in Siena there are a lot of much more interesting things that we don’t know yet.

Siena for us is a place where we constantly return for new discoveries, so we don’t say goodbye.