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Siena - The gothic
dream
"...Siena is the city of the Blessed Virgin and of it's heraldic
symbol the "Balzana", the white and black. It's passionate and
contemplative, known and unknown, steps and alleyways of days long
gone. The singular colour of the Piazza del Campo takes one by
surprise. In the districts, museums and oratories of the contradas,
the songs of the Palio evoke ancient rituals and modern cheer, while
at night the footsteps of shoes on the deserted streets couldn't be
further from the peace of the green valleys, closed out of the town
by the walls built hundreds of years ago, before Siena became a true
city. Siena is also the Duomo, the cathedral and the breathtaking
view from the Facciatone; the Pilgrim's Hall at Santa Maria della
Scala, the Piccolomini Library and the prestigious Chiagiana
Academy. The overpowering fortress now holds the Enoteca Italiana,
and with it the most precious wines of the region, of Tuscany and of
the whole country; the smells from the trattorie, the sound of the
craftsmen and the splashes from the fountains; Fontebranda and the
mystery of Diana, the famous underground river and the geometric
architecture of the Piazza, at once suggestively neo-Gothic and
cathartic. These are the reasons why "Cor magis tibi Saena pandit"
(Siena opens her heart more than her doors to you), as engraved
above Porta Camollia...."
More information
It is
an historic medieval city in the region of Tuscany, located in the
north of Italy, and lying some 70 km (43 miles) south of Florence.
It is probably best known for a colourful horse race,
Il Palio,
conducted twice each year in the summer. Siena is the most compact
of the cities,It’s built on three ridges that radiate out from the
Piazza del Campo, rather like some mysterious, theree-legged sea
creatures long embedded in a rock. Each leg forms one of the “terzi”
, or thirds , into which the city has tradionally been divided .
Everything is then neatly enclosed within a ring of well-preserved
medioval walls.
Country: Italy, Region: Tuscany, Province: Siena (SI), Mayor:
Maurizio Cenni (since May 13, 2005), Elevation: 322 m, Area: 118
km², Population: 55.000, Density: 447/km², Time zone: CET, UTC+1,
Coordinates : 43°20′N 11°20′E,
Gentilic: Senesi, Dialing code: 0577, Postal code: 53100,
53010, Patron: St. Ansanus
See also:
History,
What to expect from the Siennese life,
Museums,
Around Siena |
Staying in Siena
Siena is a
city of contrasts - from medieval treasures found within its
historic walls to modern shops and facilities located around the
city. Enjoy the tranquility found in the hidden back streets or
experience Palio preparations, races and celebrations which go on in
the main squares for over half a year. It is a small city but has a
large student population (of both Italians and foreigners), meaning
that there are plenty of places to go and things to do in your free
time - from bars and clubs to restaurants and pizzerias; from
theatres and cinemas to museums and art galleries. |
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Costo of living
Food and drinks come in all price ranges, from
reasonably priced eateries to fine dining. The following can be used
as reference for food costs: one loaf of bread: 1.40 euro;
250 gr.of butter: 1.40 euro; one litre of milk: 1.30 euro; one litre
of mineral water: 30-50 cents; one ca of Coke: 1.50; one bottle of
beer:1.80 euro Complete lunch
in an average restaurant will cost about 20.00/25.00 euro,
Typical italian
breakfast of a pastry and coffe or capuccino costs about 2,00
euro, Delicious italian gelato (icecream) costs 1,70 euro. If
you feel like having a snack, there are plenty of cheap
pizzerias, where a slice of pizza costs about 1.10 to 1.50 euro. A
local phone call costs 0.30 cents, and a cinema ticket will
cost 6.00 euro. A full cycle of washing, including drying, at
the laundrette, costs 6.00 euro. Urban bus
is 90 cents for a one-way trip, while a monthly pass will cost 24.00
euro. |
