Onward to Siena!
After Rome, we are planning on hitting the trains to Siena, Italy! Luckily, Anya’s step mother has a place that she is willing to share with us for as long as we wish. As of right now, we plan on staying in Siena for a good amount of time since we can take day trips to cities nearby. A huge portion of our expenses will be sleeping arrangements, so having a free place to stay is going to be incredibly helpful. Not to mention the fact that Siena is beautiful and a wonderful place to stay!
A little history of Siena…
Tying into my last post, Siena is said to have been founded by the sons of Remus, who is said to have founded Rome with his brother, Romulus. Although, I still am a firm believer in the founding story of Rome that gives credit to the strong woman, Roma. In reality, though, the city is said to have been a military colony founded in the first century B.C. for Roman soldiers, originally named Sena Julia. Siena began growing through power and wealth, becoming a competitor to Florence, only fifty miles apart. During the thirteenth century, wars became common between the two cities. One even lead to Florence throwing dung and donkey’s over the walls of Siena. I don’t know what is more terrifying, the thought of feces or live animals landing on my head. Eventually, Siena was allied to Florence and the two cities worked hand in hand. In 1348, though, a plague swept the streets of Siena, killing two thirds of the entire cities population. After that, the city was handed down from ruler to ruler, eventually landing in the hands of the de’Medici family. Cosimo I de’Medici hurt the city terribly, holding it back from its large potential of becoming even more powerful. The city’s success now lies in its tourism, beauty, and bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena. It was also the first city in Europe to outlaw vehicles from the city center, which is great for its aesthetic and carbon footprint (lonely planet)!
I always love learning about the rich history of European towns and countries. There is so much we as humans can learn from history and I find there is no better way than traveling to the very places such historical events took place.
A few attractions in Siena
Piazza del Campo
The historical center of Siena is on the top of my list of must-see’s in Siena. The center is a large reason why Unesco recognizes Siena as “the ideal embodiment of a medieval city” (Discover Tuscany). The center was built on top of the intersection of three main roads that lead to and from the city of Siena, being the optimal location for a square where holidays and celebrations could take place. In the late thirteenth century, any building that did not connect properly in the manner that the government desired (all buildings look as if they are connected as one), were to be torn down. At a time, the city was said to be the same size as Paris, but the plague in the fourteenth century drastically decreased the power and size of Siena. An interesting fact about the red stone flooring in the square is that it is divided by nine white lines, each meant to honor the nine governors at the time. Some say, though, that the lines are to reflect the fold in the Virgin Mary’s cloak, the “ultimate ruler” of Siena at the time (italiannotes).
The Palio Horse Race
Even though I will not be in Siena during the annual Palio Horse Race, I still want to include it in this week’s blog. As a Dressage horseback rider, anything horse related excites me! Taking place every July 2nd and August 16th, the horse race is a popular event that occurs in the city center. The several areas that belong to the city of Siena challenge each other each year to a horse race. These areas are known as “Contrade,” originally totaling to fifty, there are now seventeen Contrade left. Almost signifying as neighborhoods, the Contrade each have their own flags and colors. Each Contrade can pick the rider, but the horse is unknown until four days before the actual race, for the fellow horseback riders out there, you know that it takes much longer than this to truly feel out what your horse is capable and incapable of accomplishing. The horses must successfully lap around the center three times, regardless of if the rider remains on the horse or not. The photos are clear evidence that staying on is much harder than it may seem. As a result, animal rights activists are known to protest the event. The winner is given the Drappellone, a banner that serves as a trophy for that years winner. Each banner is painted uniquely for the winner, so the banners have served as historical pieces of Siena for centuries.
The Piccolomini Library
This colorful and historical library is located inside the Duomo of Siena, it is for sure a must see for me!
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for next weeks blog all about Florence!!
Sources:
https://italiannotes.com/facts-piazza-del-campo-siena/
https://www.discovertuscany.com/siena/piazza-del-campo.html
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/tuscany/siena/history
https://www.discovertuscany.com/siena/palio-siena.html
http://www.sienaonline.com/palio_of_siena_drappellone.html
https://www.discovertuscany.com/siena/piccolomini-library.html
All of my photos are taken from Google Images.