Page 344 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

342  CENTR AL IT AL Y

s Street-by-Street: Siena

Siena’s principal sights cluster in the maze of narrow
streets and alleys around the fan-shaped Piazza del
Campo. One of Europe’s greatest medieval squares, the
piazza sits at the heart of the city’s 17 contrade, a series
of parishes whose ancient rivalries are still acted out in
the twice-yearly Palio (see p345). Loyalty to the contrada
of one’s birth is fierce, and as you wander the streets you
will see the parishes’ animal symbols repeated on flags,
plaques and carvings. Siena’s hilly position also means The Duomo dominating Siena’s skyline
that city walks offer delightful hidden corners and
countless sudden views. Bus station

Railway
station
Via della Galluzza leads to VIA BANCHI DI SOPRA
the house of St Catherine. VIA D. GALLUZZA INDIPENDENZA

PIAZZA
The Baptistry has fine
frescoes and a font VIA BANCHI DI SOT TO
with reliefs by
Donatello,
Jacopo della
Quercia and VIA DI FONTEBRANDA
Ghiberti. V I A D I D I A C C E T O V I A D I C I T TA

PIA ZZ A
DEL
C AMPO
VIA DEI PELLEGRINI
. Duomo VIA FRANCIOSA PIAZZA SAN
GIOVANNI
Striped black-and-white
marble pillars, surmounted by
a carved frieze of the popes, VIC. D. CAMPANE
support the Duomo’s vaulted
ceiling, painted blue with
gold stars to resemble VIA DEL FUSARI
the night sky.
Each tier of the Duomo’s bell
tower has one more window
than the floor below. VIA DEL POGGIO
PIAZZA
DEL
DUOMO VIA DEL CAPITANO VIA DI CITTA

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo Key
Duccio’s Maestà, one of the Suggested route
greatest Sienese paintings, was
paraded around Siena’s streets
on its completion in 1311, and 0 metres 300
influenced the city’s painters
for decades to come. 0 yards 300
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

342-343_EW_Italy.indd 342 26/04/16 5:17 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.2)
Date 23rd October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm