Siena Italy. September 17th 2018
The next morning, we followed the recommendations of our host combined with a wonderful brochure from the Tourist Information “One Day in Sienna”.
Beginning at the nearby and central Piazza del Campo. The Piazza is famous for a horse race! The Palio di Siena a horse race preceded by a grand procession around the square every year.
The piazza has 9 segments representing each original governor forming a shell shape out from Municipal building. Extensive rules for buildings around the square date from the 13th century – for example no balconies and a requirement for ‘mullioned’ windows – 2 or 3 vertical panels
Our first visit was to the original Municipal building – the Palazzo Publico Museo Civico (now the Civic Museum) – along one side of the Piazza del Campo forming the base of the shell shape. The Palace first built in the 13th century – described as “one of the most important examples of civil gothic architecture in the world”.
The building itself contains many frescoes depicting Italian history dating back to the building’s beginnings. Each room a different feature including one with intricate and inlaid woodwork along the seats.
The museum now has a selection of art work. One piece I loved was a marble statue of a girl, delicately drapes and reclining on a what appears to be a buttoned mattress.
Before leaving the building, we climbed stairs to the Loggia – a large open covered space with a view over the small Piazza and the outskirts of Sienna.
From the Municipal building we followed the self-guided tour moving on to the opposite side of the square where the remnants of the original system for bringing water – first built 1346. And on out into the streets we went winding through the shopping, arts, and living areas. Diverting to other areas where we found them including the old ghetto, the Medici fortress with views across the city
From the fortress our navigational skills were again tested trying to find the original hospital. Eventually we found what we thought was the hospital. What we did find was Casa Santuario – Sanctuary of Saint Catherine – the place where Catherine was born. Converted into a sanctuary in 1464. The age of buildings is astounding. The buildings are now a pilgrimage site maintained by the Benedictine nuns.
Saint Catherine is a significant figure both in the Catholic Church and in Siena. The sanctuary is a peaceful, simple and beautiful place to visit. The contrast of the simple, cool, rooms with the excessively beautiful chapel with pale toned frescoes trimmed lavishly with gold.
Eventually found our way to the Duomo and booked a visit along with a visit to the Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala### – a favourite visit for me even when time ran out. Santa Maria della Scala is said to be the oldest care facility in Europe.
Described as a city within a city the it was a huge complex over multiple floors including spaces dug into rock, catacombs and an internal street – cobbled street with brick wall and arched ceiling. The underground area contained an extensive archaeological museum and art installation. Art both modern and ancient combine throughout the building making the hospital an important centre for art in Siena.
Its history was recorded in large softly coloured frescoes – including medical care, charity work, educating and supporting abandoned children, providing nutrition and support to mothers and children.
Upper floors contained an interactive art exhibition designed for children (of all ages!)
And finally the Sienna Duomo what else to say – an Italian Gothic beauty, a marble extravaganza, a Renaissance gem. Every inch of it highly decorated – carved, frescoed, gold leafed, bronzed, with superb marble tiled floor of many intricate patterns and stories.
The floors were a fascination for me – recently restored the tiling contains intricate pictures and patterns.
And then the wood – carved and inlaid. burnished exquisite workmanship0
