Siena, Italy

This past Friday we took our second school oriented field trip to the city of Siena, Italy for our Reading Cities class. Siena is an important city for architecture in Italy due to its many monuments which display the medieval gothic style, a style which was not particularly common in Italy. Unlike our last school trip where we rode the Frecciarossa train into Rome, this time we took a bus from the train station for the hour and fifteen minute ride into Siena. I can't honestly say that I cared that much for Siena, although that sentiment is likely deeply, and possibly unfairly influenced by the cold, rainy weather we encountered while touring the city. Nonetheless, there were a number of significant architectural pieces there which were quite interesting such as the Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia, the Piazza del Campo, the Siena Cathedral, and the Monte dei Paschi di Siena. The Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia are the location of the governmental seat of Siena and are situated as the focal point of the Piazza del Campo, the most important open public space in Siena. This open space is one of the first in the world which was designed with the void space of the square as the focal point with the buildings being formed around the open space. This results in the maintaining of the shell shaped piazza which is still present today. The Siena Cathedral is a building full of architectural mistakes, but one which is still charming in its own right. The alternating white and black banding present throughout the interior of the church and on the secondary facades and tower are quite unique and represent the symbolic colors of the city which are said to be derived from the horses of the founders of Siena. Interestingly enough, the Siena Cathedral was originally planned to be the largest cathedral in the world at the time, but money ran out to continue construction and so the cathedral which stands as the monument of Siena today is actually an unfinished one which is merely the transept of the original design. Finally, the Monte dei Pashi di Siena is the oldest surviving bank in the world which is present in the Piazza Salimbeni in Siena. 

While there are these elements which I mentioned to view here, I would say if anyone was to visit Siena it could probably be given its proper due in three good hours and then could be moved on from without feeling as though any significant element was missed. The photos to follow document the trip. Enjoy!

Siena from a Distance

Siena Cathedral from a Distance

Siena from a Distance

Building in Siena

View Down Street in Siena

Palazzo Pubblico, Torre Del Mangia

Torre Del Mangia

Piazza Del Campo

Torre Del Mangia

Palazzo Pubblico, Torre Del Mangia

Piazza Del Campo and a Portion of My School Travel Group

Drain for Piazza Del Campo
(It Slopes Downward and Inward)

Evidence of Medieval Gothic Stlye on Palazzo Pubblico

Brick Pattern and Inlaid Travertine Marble
in Piazza Del Campo

Portico to Palazzo Pubblico

Courtyard in Palazzo Pubblico

Piazza Del Campo

Panorama of Piazza Del Campo

Baptistery of Siena Cathedral

Stairs on the Way to the Siena Cathedral

Siena Cathedral

Siena Cathedral

Facade of Siena Cathedral

Facade of Siena Cathedral

Entryway Details to Siena Cathedral

Top Detail of Siena Cathedral Facade

Gargoyle on Siena Cathedral
(Evidence of Medieval Gothic Stlye)

Column Detail on Siena Cathdral Facade

Column Detail on Siena Cathedral Facade

Main Nave of Siena Cathedral

Nave Vaults of Siena Cathedral

Rear Portion of Siena Cathedral

Dome and Main Nave of Siena Cathedral

Dome of Siena Cathedral

Interior View of Entry to Siena Cathedral

Main Nave of Siena Cathedral

Interior of Monte Dei Paschi di Siena

Interior of Monte Dei Paschi di Siena

Interior of Monte Dei Paschi di Siena

Interior of Monte Dei Paschi di Siena

Interior of Monte Dei Paschi di Siena

Cool (and comfortable) Chair in
Interior of Monte dei Paschi di Siena

Stair on Interior of Monte dei Paschi di Siena

My Sketch of Siena Cathedral Facade