Day 7 - Siena

Another day in the books and it feels as though we are winding down on our trip already.  Time sure flies when you’re having fun!  Especially when you are having foreign fun!

As you can see, Ted snapped a few perfect shots this morning from our window.  I woke up long enough to congratulate him on the images and eeewww and ahhhh at the fog setting over the trees while the sun was rising making for the perfect picture. 

I am still having difficulty adjusting to the time and do not want to get up early in the mornings.  Being that we are on vacation, I will use that as a valid excuse.  We finally got up and moving just after 9 am here.  Ate breakfast and made it back to Tavarnuzze, which is Ted’s favorite Italian word to hop on ‘ole #37 bus.  We rode the bus into the main stop and found a chartered bus to Siena.  I read reviews that it was the easiest option compared to driving into Siena and finding a place to park on the outskirts of town. 

Once in Siena, it was already 1:00 pm, so we began walking to the city center.  We found a local joint that met our eye and grabbed a few slices of peeezaaahhhh.  Oh were they tasty.  Can you imagine what followed next?  You got it!

We enjoyed our gelato in the Piazza del Campo, their central square, which some say is the best in Italy.  Interestingly enough, twice a year, the square is converted into a horse race track for the Siena’s Palio.  The Palio is a contest between the 17 neighborhoods which encompass Siena and have divided the city since the Middle Ages.  So one can imagine the bragging rights which come with this territory.  I would imagine it being similar to an Iowa/ Iowa State rivalry, but add 15 other teams!  The first recorded running occurred all the way back in 1310!  As the square only fits ten horses, the remaining 7, along with three chosen at random from the first race of the summer, then race in the second race a month later.  Interestingly enough, the horses and jockeys are chosen at random.  Bribery, secret plots, and betrayal are commonplace.  In the past, there has even been stories of drugging the horses and kidnapping the jockeys!    

Piazza del Campo - Home of the Palio

Yeah, I wasn't sure what to think about when I saw this. Apparently, these are twin boys that were raised by a wolf.  This is the symbol for the neighborhood of Siena that we were in.  

Anyways, post gelato, we found our way to Siena’s Duomo.  We bought a ticket which allowed access to numerous points within the cathedral.  This one proved to be even more beautiful than the Duomo in Florence!   We spent hours walking around and photographing as you can see by a few of our favorite photos.

When we had enough, we felt it was time to make our way back to Florence.  And, while in Florence, why not grab another sandwich for dinner at All’ antico Vinaio?  We made our way to the square with the many sculptures and enjoyed our sandwich under the Florence night sky.  What a great way to end our time in Tuscany!

We head to Orvieto and Tavoli tomorrow, which are on the outskirts of Rome.