What are famous tourist spots in Siena, Italy?

Question

What are famous tourist spots in Siena, Italy?

Answer 1

Hello,

The Piazza del campo is where the hold the Palio horse race.  The Piazza del Duomo is where the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption is.  The Piazza dei Salimbeni is where one of the famous fortresses of Sienna is.  You can also see the Basillica of San Domenico, the House of Saint Catherine, the fountain of Fontebranda, the fountain of Gaia and the church of St. Cristoforo.  The city itself is a famous tourist spot with its small alleyways and wonderful squares.  

donna

Answer 2

Places to Visit:

- Piazza del Campo - rightly considered the centre of the city around which everything gravitates, and it is here that Palio is held. The square is shaped like a scallop shell and is slightly inclined. Paved with stone laid out in herring bone fashion to form sun like rise, its divided into nine sectors symbolizing the Council of Nine.

In the central sector in front of the Palazzo Pubblico is the Fonte Gala (Fountain of Joy), an artistic masterpiece by Jacopo della Quercia. The fountain now seen in the square is a 19th-century copy of the original. This was removed to preserve it from the ravages of the weather. Water for fountain was brought from the hills since 14th century, through a system of galleries and cisterns 25 km long.

- Palazzo Pubblico - Town Hall, dominated by the Torre del Mangia, Mangia Tower. Built between 1288-1342, its facade its three stories high in the centre and two stories on either side. The base is made of stone in the form of what are called "Sienese arcades" surmounted by a series of mullioned windows in marble which contrast with the bricks used for the facade.

Inside the palace is Civic Museum which hold some of the most important Sienese paintings such as the "Maesta di Guidoriccio da Fogliano" by Simone Martini and the chapel with a splendid inlaid wooden choir stall.

The Palazzo Pubblico still serves as the town hall, but the medieval state rooms are open to the public.

- Mangia Tower - is the second highest bell tower in Italy, at 102m.  Climbing up to the top of the tower is without question an experience for both: the 505 steps involved and the fabulous panorama of the city and its surrounding area.

- Loggia della Mercanzia - situated in front of the Palazzo Pubblico, once the headquarters of the merchants, with beautiful frescos on its vaulted ceiling, built at the beginning of the 15th Century, behind the Croce del Travglio, one of the crosses marking a stopping point on the Via Francigena.

- Via di Citta - one of the most elegant streets in the centre of the city, with its impressive palaces and prestigious shops. Number 75 Palazzo Patrizi, is the headquarters of the Accademia degli Intronati founded in 1525 to promote the study of letters and arts in the old Sienese city state.

- Palazzo Picolomini - a majestic building with a stone facade in Renaissance style was designed by Rosellino in 1485. It is now a cultural centre for contemporary arts offering workshops, art courses and exhibitions to young up and coming artist.

- Duomo - if Piazza del Campo is the lay centre of the city, Piazza del Duomo is the spiritual one.

Construction of the Duomo began in the Romanesque period around 1150 and continued through to the 14th century after the Plague eliminated the dream of building the largest temple in Christendom. This imposing and magnificent building has a Gothic facade with many Romanesque influences; the decoration of the lower portion was designed by Giovani Pisano. The central rosette is surrounded by spires, niches, statues and pinnacles, the work of Giovanni de Cecco. Mosaics by Augusto Castellani added at the end of the 19th century complete the facade. The bell tower with its white and black stripes is a Romanesque structure, but was added in the 18th century. The interior of the Dome, in the shape of the Latin cross, is majestic and solemn, with pillars holding up the pointed archers who are painted to simulate the sky and the stars. The marble floor is made up of 56 inlayed panels by more than 40 artists including Beccafumi who did many of them, depicting sacred and profane subjects. Unfortunately, it is almost always covered for conservation purposes.

At the end of the left nave is the Piccolomini Library, with frescos by Pinturicchio, a 15th century masterpiece without equal leaving the spectator breathless with wonder. It was ordered by Cardinale Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini to house the library of his uncle, Pope Pius II. It also displays a collection of exquisitely illustrated choir books, rarely found of such quality and especially in such quantity. In the left hand transept the white marble pulpit is by Nicola Pisano. At the front of the transept is the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist with a bronze statue of the saint by Donatello.

- Museo dell Opera Metropolitana - was created out of a portion of the arcades destined for the new cathedral, the plans for which had to be abandoned. It contains works from the cathedral and the diocese of Siena. Impressive the round plate of the Madonna and Child by Donatello, a sculpted relief by Jacop della Quercia and ten statues by Giovanni Pisano which have been removed from the facade of the Dome. In addition to these pieces, which would be sufficient for an entire museum, there are several significant works by other Tuscan and Sienese artist.

- Pinacoteca Nazionale -National Art Collection-  housed in the Palazzo Buonsignori and Palazzo Brigidi include a cross painted by a Sienese master in the 12th century, a wooden tablet of the Madonna dei Francescani, the work of a young Duccio di Buoninsegna, and a room dedicated to Simone Martini, including, Beato Agostino Novello and Suoi Miracoli.

- Oratory of Saint Bernard - which now contains the recently restructured premises of the Diocese Museum for Sacred Art, including works from major Sienese artist collected from churches and convents.

- Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels - covered in frescos telling the Story of the Virgin Mary, is an excellent example of Italian Renaissance workmanship with inlays and stuccos giving a rich and elegant feeling to the interior.

More about Siena:

http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=121