| Taking an excursion from Florence
will be easy, once you know which way to venture. For a half day’s excursion,
Fiesole is the hot spot. The culture found in this beautiful town is breathtaking
and may leave you tired and light-headed. Fiesole was formerly an Etruscan
settlement that was founded during the 7th century BC. The Archaeological
Park features Roman baths, a Roman temple and an Etruscan temple. When
the town was ransacked by Florentines in 1125, only the Cathedral and Bishop’s
Palace were left standing. There are now many shops and trattorie that
surround the Cathedral. Works from Mino da Fiesole grace many spots around
the Cathedral. The Museo Archeologico offers works from some of Italy’s
lesser known Renaissance artists. While traveling to or from Fiesole, be
sure to stop at the Medici Villas.
If you are planning an all
day excursion from Florence, be sure and make plans to visit Medieval
Siena. The Campo in Siena is the scene of the world famous Palio,
a bareback horse race, which is held twice each year in July and August.
There are many architectural and artistic points to view in Siena.
The Museo dell`Opera del Duomo is one of Siena’s most visited spots.
The Museo holds Duccio’s Maesta, a devotional picture of the Madonna enthroned
among saints and angels. To reach Sienna from Florence, it is most
recommended that you take the bus. There are no cars allowed in Siena,
and the train forces a chance, so the bus is a much more convenient and
worry free method of transportation for your excursion. There are buses
that leave Florence approximately every hour, and the trip into
Siena takes only an hour.
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