Siena
Prevalently influenced by Medieval, Romanesque and Early Baroque, Siena is a perfect example of how a city during the 11th and 14th century could look like: Everywhere one turns, there are in fact houses, monuments and churches made of dark stone or white local marble, the main reason why the UNESCO declared this city with its historical a World Heritage Site. The city is divided in 17 wards called “Contrade”, each of them represented by an animal or mascot, owning individually a boundary and distinct identity. The Cathedral of Siena, the city’s dome, hosts a wide number of masterpieces made by the famous artists, sculptors and painters such as Donatello, Ghiberti, Jacopo della Quercia and so on. The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the central town square, is another architectural treasure, famous for hosting the Palio horse race, an ancient, medieval tradition, where the the city’s wards rivalries are most rampant during this event, taking place twice each year, attended by large crowds and widely televised.
