Siena, Italy –
Medieval Life and Horse Racing
by: Rick Chapo
Italy
has many well-known travel destinations such
as Rome. Less publicized destinations such
as Siena are even better.
Siena
Located roughly an hour
outside of Florence, Siena is one of my
favorite places in Italy. When you think
gothic architecture and medieval town, you
think of Siena. Built as a fortified city
behind large, thick walls on a small
mountain, Siena oozes history. Cars are
barred from much of the city, so you can
meander down ancient brick alleyways below
towering wall-to-wall residences.
In Siena, you’ll find a
relaxed way of life, two music schools and
just a general feel of what Italy must have
been like in the past. Head to the Piazza
del Campo in the heart of the city and grab
a seat in a café. As you gaze across the
city, you can view the Duomo Cathedral that
towers over the city. Unlike other cities,
the cathedral does not contrast with the
buildings around it. All of Siena retains
the gothic medieval architectural style and
you’ll be hard pressed to find a better
gothic example in Europe.
The best way to experience
Siena is to simply stay there. Like wine,
Siena improves the longer you stay. Daily
explorations lead to surprising little
shops, incredibly friendly people and a
general feeling of peace.
Il Palio
If you prefer a little
action on your trip, Siena has an event that
rivals any in Europe. The Il Palio bareback
horse race around
the
Piazza del Campo is a sight to be seen. The
fun starts well before the race when various
neighborhoods challenge each other. The
challenge comes in the form of bands walking
through "enemy" neighborhoods in the middle
of the night and making an unholy racket.
Eventually, each neighborhood produces a
horse and rider for the day of the race.
Bareback, the riders race for neighborhood
pride among an absolutely screaming crowd of
people. The running of the bulls has nothing
on this event.
If you visit Florence
while in Italy, take the time to spend a
couple days in Siena. In fact, blow past
Florence and go immediately to Siena.
