Roses in front of the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena, Italy.
Located in central-southern Tuscany, the Province of Siena is a beautiful city full of gothic architecture, art and scenic views. Walking through the streets of Siena will definitely make you feel like you are back in the Middle Ages. If you find yourself in the historic city of Siena, you need to visit the Basilica of San Domenico, the Siena Cathedral and the Palio.
Basilica of San Domenico:
The Basilica of San Domenico is a gothic-styled church dedicated entirely to Saint Catherine of Siena. At the top of the church’s bell tower, a statue of Saint Catherine can be seen. The church began construction in 1225 and finished around 1262 to 1265.
The Basilica of San Domenico in Siena, Italy.
What is special and most peculiar about this church is that it contains the head and finger of Saint Catherine. These relics are displayed in a glass case for individuals to view or pray to. During the Middle Ages, holy relics were sold to religious places for money. In fact, Saint Catherine died in Rome, not Siena. The people of Siena wished to have her body, or at least parts of it.
The inside of the church is decorated with 17 flags that represent the 17 districts, or contrade, of Siena. Each district is assigned an emblem and color. For example, 13 of the emblems depict a unique animal such as a snail, panther, tortoise, owl, unicorn, ram, caterpillar, dragon, giraffe, porcupine, she-wolf and goose. The other four emblems are a wave, forest, shell and ram.
Contrade emblems displayed throughout Siena, Italy.
The church’s floors are ceramic and the walls display frescos depicting episodes from Saint Catherine’s life. Unfortunately, you cannot take any photos inside the church. If you want a glimpse of Saint Catherine’s head and finger, you will just have to go see for yourself. On the plus side, entrance inside of the church is free.
Siena Cathedral:
The Siena Cathedral is a gothic-styled building filled with art by Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio. Built between 1215 and 1263, the cathedral is shaped like a Latin cross and has a bell tower and a dome. The interiors and exteriors are decorated in white and black marble in alternating stripes (the symbolic colors of Siena). The ceiling of the cathedral depicts religious men of Siena and the floors are decorated with mosaics that tell many stories.
The Siena Cathedral in Siena, Italy.
Several statues decorate the entrance of the cathedral. One in particular, the Capitoline Wolf, is actually the symbol of Siena. The Capitoline Wolf depicts a she-wolf with suckling twins: Romulus and Remus. It is said that Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, the two sons of Remus. When the two fled Rome, they took the statue to Siena.
The Capitoline Wolf statue at the Siena Cathedral in Siena, Italy.
There is an unusual tall wall that sticks out to the right of the cathedral. In the early 14th century, work was actually started to enlarge the cathedral. But, in 1348, the work stopped and never restarted due to the Black Plague. Siena’s population was drastically reduced by the plaque from 42,000 to around 14,000. Now, the wall serves a new purpose. You can climb up and enjoy a beautiful view of Siena. To access this, you need to go through the cathedral’s Museo dell’Opera.
Unfinished portion of the Siena Cathedral in Siena, Italy.
You can purchase tickets for the cathedral through the OPA Call Center. The OPA Si Pass, for example, is a three day, all-inclusive ticket that allows access to the cathedral and the Piccolomini Library, Museo dell'Opera, Baptistery, Crypt, Oratory of San Bernardino and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art. From March 1 to October 31, the cost of the pass in 12 euros. From November 1 to February 28, the cost is eight euros. What a steal! In addition, children under the age of 11 enter the cathedral for free.
Palio:
Siena holds a horse race, called the Palio, at the Piazza del Campo (the heart of the city). The Sienese prepare the Piazza del Campo for the race by creating a ring around the square made out of tuff clay. The Palio is the most important event in Siena and occurs twice a year on July 2 and August 16 bringing in thousands of people. The event actually takes place over the course of four days. The first day is known as the “Tratta,” which is the drawing of the lots and delegation of the horses to each of the contrade. The second and third days are full of trial runs and the fourth day is when the race actually takes place.
The Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy.
Ten of the 17 contrade of Siena challenge each other in this historical event that dates back to the sixth century. For the people of Siena, the Palio is a huge part of their lives. Since locals belong to a distinct contrade, they show great passion which you will see if you attend the event.
Now you may be asking, what is the prize for the winning contrada? Well, the Palio prize is called a “drappellone” which is a large painted canvas designed and created by a renowned artist. The winning contrada displays the drappellone in its museum.
The Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy.
You can attend the Palio for free at Piazza del Campo. Due to the many attendees, the piazza can get crowded. If you want a more comfortable position to watch the horse race, bleachers or balconies can be purchased through APT in Siena. You can also contact the residents that live in the homes facing the piazza.
Photo depicting the Palio in Siena, Italy.
Overall:
The Basilica of San Domenico, the Siena Cathedral and the Palio are just three of the many attractions to visit in Siena, Italy.
“You can spend a week in Siena,” said Cristina Amberi, a licensed tour guide of Siena.
Amberi also recommends that you visit the Palazzo Pubblico which is the town hall of Siena as well as the Santa Maria della Scala which is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe.
“Siena is filled with incredible architecture. It is a frozen time city because of so many art collections inside the buildings,” Amberi said.
Views of Siena, Italy.
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