Travels in Tuscany--Siena (Part 2 of 2)

Our visit to Siena continues.

Siena has wonderful architecture.  In the photo below is an example of a medieval Gothic palazzo, the Palazzo Salimbeni, from the 1300's.  The palazzo is home to the oldest surviving bank in the world, the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, founded in 1472.  If you read current Italian financial news, then you know that Monte de Paschi has suffered due to the global financial crisis.  Apparently, the bank is too big to fail.  The Italian government and taxpayers are bailing out the bank. 

In front of the Monte de Paschii's Gothic palazzo is a statue of Sallustio Bandini, an expert in banking.

A Renaissance palazzo flanks the Gothic palazzo, on the right

Near the roof of the Renaissance palazzo are heads of famous Renaissance figures including Galileo and Dante. 

A neo-classical palazzo flanks the Gothic palazzo, on the left

A prevalent symbol found all over Siena--the twins Romulus and Remus with the she-wolf.  The legend is that Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, sons of Remus and nephews of Romulus.  Supposedly, after Romulus murdered his brother Remus, sons Senius and Aschius left Rome and established Siena, taking with them the statue of the she-wolf suckling the infants.

The Basilica di San Domenico

Siena has 17 neighborhoods called contrade.  Each contrada has a local government and church, plus a separate identify signified by a special symbol.  We visited several contrade, including the Selva (Forest) one the west side of Siena.  "Selva's symbol is a rhinoceros at the base of an oak tree hung with hunting tools."

Each Summer, Siena hosts two horse races known as Il Palio. Ten of the contrade participate in each race.  The event is a steamy, drunken, lawless affair that we hope to see. Below is a photo of Selva's horse stall for its entrant in Il Palio.

We visited the main square of Siena, the Piazza del Campo. The Palio horse race is run in the square.  Below are a few photos.

Siena's main square of Siena, the Piazza del Campo. The very tall tower, Torre Mangia, was built to be taller than Florence's tower.  Siena and Florence have been longtime rivals.

The Cappella di Piazza in the Piazza del Campo.  The chapel was built as a divine offering following the devastating Black Death in 1348. 

The 1419 Fonte Gaia ("Fountain of the World") in the Piazza del Campo

A bas-relief of the Madonna in the Fonte Gaia

Thanks for visiting Siena with us.

P.S.  While touring Siena, we spotted some street art, including the painting below which is similar to the many we have seen in Florence.