Siena Revisited

We have been blessed with amazing weather while here in Tuscany and today was no exception. Sunny and a warm 18C we started the day with a one hour “speed walk” with the landlord’s dog, Orzo, along some of the country back roads. It was a wonderful way to start the day. After breakfast Rita did a load of laundry before we headed for Siena to check out a couple of the museums and their Cathedral that we did not see on our first visit.

Rita hanging our clothes to dry out of her Bruno Magli laundry bag

Front of Cathedral Santa Maria

The Cathedral of Santa Maria was consecrated in 1179 but most of what is there today is from the 13th Century and was built to compete with the Cathedral in Florence. The Florence Cathedral is definitely more impressive on the outside but the interior of the Cathedral in Siena is definitely the hands down winner. It is packed with so many amazing works of art celebrating God, Jesus and Mary that it’s impossible to describe them all. For me the main features were the floor of the Cathedral which is completely covered by 56 intricate marble inlaid scenes that were started in the 13th Century and were not completed until the 19th Century. The earliest ones were more simple black and white designs with the later ones being very complex and multicolored. For Rita and I ”The Slaughter of the Innocents” panel was truly remarkable and moved us the most. The Libreria Piccolomini is also very impressive with its Frescos, painted ceiling and displays of hand written music scores intricately decorated with religious images. Even Rita was impressed and enjoyed exploring the inside of the Cathedral.

Libreria Piccolomini

One of the 56 marble panels on the Cathedral Floor

After all that exploring and Interneting it was getting late and we decided to sit back and relax with a glass of red wine at one of the café’s rimming the Il Campo Piazza before heading home for one of Rita’s excellent Italian dinners.

City Hall and Tower at Night