My Heart is in Siena!

Piazza del Campo

How to Go to Siena for the Day

Step One: Greet the day when you wake up feeling fresh and ready for adventure!

Translation: Drag yourself and your roommate out of bed at 5:00am making as many grunting and moaning noises as you can.

Step Two:  Take a moment for some quiet meditation in nature.

Translation: Wait at the bus stop in the cold for 45 minutes.

Step Three: When you feel ready, some light exercise will start your day off right.

Translation: Decide that the bus isn’t coming and begin walking to a Taxi stand, then sprint 2 blocks to the next stop when the bus sneaks up behind you.

A "San Paolo" at San Paolo's

Step Four: Experience and appreciate the journey and everything it takes to get where you’re going.

Translation: Ride the graffiti covered Metro train with doors that open before the train comes to a stop and close after the train has started moving.

Step Five: Don’t forget to relax!  Enjoy your trip!

Translation: Get on the coach, find a seat in the back, and fall asleep for the three-hour bus ride.

Despite a bit of a rocky start, we made it to Siena in one piece. 

Front gates of the Duomo

Siena is a small town in Tuscany famous for its back and white stripped cathedral and city square.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site meaning it preserves incredible cultural heritage of humanity and is protected and preserved.  In the square, Piazza del Campo, there is a traditional horse race held twice a year between the ten neighborhoods.  To be chosen as your neighborhood's representative is a great honor and many riders dedicate their lives and careers to training for the race.  We also heard the horses must be of a certain breed because the corners are so sharp that many can’t handle the turns without serious injury.  It’s not racing season, but the square was full of families with young children dressed in costumes and throwing confetti at each other to celebrate Carnivale, the masquerade festival that takes place in Venice in February and March.

The Alter of the Cathedral

We got off the bus and started walking down winding roads encased by tall brick buildings.  I guess all roads lead to the Piazza because after a few minutes of not knowing where we were going, we found ourselves in front of the towering Palazzo Pubblico and its Torre del Mangia.  Torre del Mangia translates to “Tower of the Eater” which apparently related to the reputation of the first guardian of the tower.  It is said he never had any money because he spent every available coin on food.  I don’t blame him.  I would spend my life’s savings on gelato if I could.

Black and white are Siena's official colors.

The beautiful square distracted us from our growling stomachs for a little while, but after a few photos, we went on the hunt for food.  Anna has a friend who visited Siena and gave her a list of suggestions with mini history lessons.  While still trying to get our bearings, we stumbled onto the exact sandwich shop mentioned in the list.  It’s called San Paolo’s and is famous for the menu of 50 different sandwiches.  Also their bathroom which was like using the bathroom on an alien space ship.  Not that I have experience in that area...

Hymnals older than my country

After a delicious lunch, we walked over to the Cathedral.  It was built in the early 1200s.  I am still having trouble describing the beauty.  Frescos, mosaic tiles, and breathtaking domes are all you see.  In one of the chapels you can see original hymnals perfectly preserved.  I didn’t want to walk around because even the floor is a work of art. 

Next we went to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.  This five-story museum is packed with original works of art from around Siena and furniture, stained glass, and art from the Cathedral.  We couldn’t understand much because all of the information was in Italian, but just looking at the dates was enough to make our jaws drop.

eek!

At the top of the museum is the passageway to the arch, a kind of gate at the opening of the Cathedral piazza.  We climbed the very old, very small spiral staircases to the top and gazed out at all of Siena.

After carefully climbing back down and taking a breath, we continued on to the crypt and the Chapel of John the Baptist.  All of the artifacts displayed in the crypt must have been touring, but the structure itself is amazing.  Parts of the floor are cut out and glass is placed over the holes to look into the burial chambers.

Chapel of St. John the Baptist

The Chapel is very peaceful.  We sat in the pews and studied the beautiful ceiling and Donatello’s sculpture of John the Baptist in bronze.

"Underwater" Gift Shop

Walking out of the Chapel, there is a small gift shop.  We were about to walk by when an English sign caught my eye.  “This used to be below sea level!” There was an arrow pointing to the ground.  We walked in and were greeted by the smell of salt and algae and hundreds of painted dishes and platters.  The walls were exactly what I see when I go SCUBA diving: rolling rock with nooks and crannies covered in slimy green algae.

It started raining as we walked out so we took shelter in a café and I had my first Italian hot chocolate.  It was thick and delicious!  We decided to stay for dinner and I had some very good pasta with pesto.  We topped off the night with gelato before walking back to the bus stop and going home.

As wonderful as it is to be in Rome, I think my heart might be in Siena.

To see more, better quality photos, click HERE!