| Siena, Italy
is located in the Tuscan region and is the capital of the Siena
Province. Siena is a medieval city of brick. The emblem for Siena
is the she wolf, and the natives of Siena proudly claim this emblem.
From atop such places as the Palazzo Pubblico tower, you can gaze down
upon this proud Italian city and view the beauty that it has fought so
hard to retain over the centuries. Siena has fought since the 14th
century to defend its liberty, and has, as a result, lost the time and
energy needed to develop further as an individual city. Because of this,
Siena has remained one of the largest Tuscan cities to retain its
distinctively medieval air. Visiting Siena gives you the opportunity
to feel the life of the Tuscan Middle Ages.
Beautiful and interesting points
to see while in Siena include the Duomo. The Duomo, Siena’s
Cathedral, was completed in 1380. It has distinctive features including
the point that its axis runs north to south, which is very uncommon among
Christian Cathedrals. Inside the Gothic octagonal pulpit, built by Nicola
Pisano in 1268, you will find labyrinth inlaid flooring, and in the Duomo’s
baptistery are baptismal fonts by Donatello, Ghiberti, and Jacopo della
Quercia.
The Monte dei Paschi di Siena,
located on the Piazza Salimbeni, is the medieval headquarters, and one
of the oldest banks in existence. In the Gothic Palazzo Chigi, you will
find Siena’s conservatory of music. The Sanctuary of Santa Caterina
holds the 12th century Crucifix, and a statue of St. Catherine from the
15th century. It was here that St. Catherine received her stigmata.
Siena also enjoys a
long history of sports, both professional and amateur. While basketball
and football are the most popular, rugby and track and field are also practiced.
The Calcio Association of Siena was fully established in 1908. The
Calcio Association has participated in the National Soccer Championship’s
A series since 2004.
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