Burnt Siena (12/04/03)
Last updated 12/07/03
Our guidebook claimed that to "bypass Siena would be to miss one of
Italy's most captivating towns", so how could we not stop here? The
town proved to be one of the most visually stunning experiences so far
-- from the ever-present "burnt sienna" color used for most of the
architecture, to the ubiquitous archways and labirynthine, small, steep
streets which gave the town a definite medieval feel, to the striped
white and black marble Duomo, the town
of Sienna was almost a sensory overload.
The town, supposedly built by the sons of Remus (which explains the
she-wolf statues in several locations -- see picture below), rests on
three hills
and is surrounded by all sorts of medieval fortifications (we walked
along a large stone wall from the train station, and actually entered
the town through an old gate). The medieval theme continues even in the
very heart of town which consists of a series of tiny, sloping streets
which were what I imagined Italy to look like (somewhat like the
streets in the movie "The Labirynth", sans the goblins of course). My
usually confused sense of direction was tormented by the multitude of
streets that virtually appeared from nowhere, and my poor legs lamented
at each steep incline that we faced during our strolls through the old
town.
The Piazza del Campo, a vast bowl-shaped plaza, is the location of the
Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall) and is surrounded by a series of
restaurants and cafes which make it a popular spot to have coffee and
observe locals and tourists alike marvelling at the beauty of the
burnt-sienna-colored buildings which line the plaza. We enjoyed some
delicious ice-cream, from
an authentic gelateria
(Italian ice-cream shop), while taking in the sights and sounds of the
Piazza during the evening. I savored several scoops of vanilla
(actually some sort of cream flavor that closely resembled a rich
french vanilla) in a waffle cone, while Daria satiated her sweet tooth
with some of the best coffee-flavored ice-cream I've ever had (I stole
a few bites!). I'd be lying if I said I didn't envy the locals who get
to regularly enjoy their panini lunches on the Piazza with the
magnificent view of the Palazzo...
Our guide book claims that the Duomo is one of the "most enchanting
cathedrals in Italy" and it certainly didn't disappoint. The black and
white striped marble facade reminded me a bit of old jail uniforms
(from the cartoons and movies of my childhood) and the tower looked
like it would be a perfect fit for a place like Alcatraz. Inside,
however, the cathedral was absolutely stunning with beautiful stained
glass windows (have yet to see a European cathedral without them), and
an inlaid-marble floor with 56 panels depicting biblical stories (most
were actually covered with cardboard due to reconstruction efforts,
another popular theme of our "world" trip --- I think it could best be
called the "Mehra Reconstruction Tour 2003"). The few panels that were
still visible were pretty impressive and I hope that the reconstruction
efforts will allow visitors to enjoy this treasure for years to come.
Pictures
Some prime examples of the burnt sienna color that is prevalent in the
town
Another couple of images which capture the
essence of Sienna. There are plenty of archways, and many are quite
long (even extending through a couple of buildings, forming a tunnel of
sorts), and several statues of Romulus and Remus along with the
she-wolf
that supposedly nursed them.
The Duomo, whose construction began in 1196
and finished roughly 20 years later, is another focal point of the
city.
Another couple of images which capture the
essence of Sienna. There are plenty of archways, and many are quite
long (even extending through a couple of buildings, forming a tunnel of
sorts), and several statues of Romulus and Remus along with the
she-wolf
that supposedly nursed them.
The Duomo, whose construction began in 1196
and finished roughly 20 years later, is another focal point of the
city.