Italy has many well-known travel destinations such as Rome. Less
publicized destinations such as Siena are even better.
Sienna
Located roughly an hour outside of Florence, Siena is one of my
favorite places in Italy. When you think gothic architecture and
medieval town, you think of Siena. Built as a fortified city
behind large, thick walls on a small mountain, Siena oozes
history. Cars are barred from much of the city, so you can
meander down ancient brick alleyways below towering wall-to-wall
residences.
In Siena, you'll find a relaxed way of life, two music schools
and just a general feel of what Italy must have been like in the
past. Head to the Piazza del Campo in the heart of the city and
grab a seat in a café. As you gaze across the city, you can view
the Duomo Cathedral that towers over the city. Unlike other
cities, the cathedral does not contrast with the buildings
around it. All of Siena retains the gothic medieval
architectural style and you'll be hard pressed to find a better
gothic example in Europe.
The best way to experience Siena is to simply stay there. Like
wine, Siena improves the longer you stay. Daily explorations
lead to surprising little shops, incredibly friendly people and
a general feeling of peace.
Il Palio
If you prefer a little action on your trip, Siena has an event
that rivals any in Europe. The Il Palio bareback horse race
around the Piazza del Campo is a sight to be seen. The fun
starts well before the race when various neighborhoods challenge
each other. The challenge comes in the form of bands walking
through "enemy" neighborhoods in the middle of the night and
making an unholy racket. Eventually, each neighborhood produces
a horse and rider for the day of the race. Bareback, the riders
race for neighborhood pride among an absolutely screaming crowd
of people. The running of the bulls has nothing on this event.
If you visit Florence while in Italy, take the time to spend a
couple days in Siena. In fact, blow past Florence and go
immediately to Siena.
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