CITY OF SIENA
Siena, medieval city of dazzling beauty, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
The history
Legend has it that Siena was founded by Senio and Ascanio, sons of Remus, the famous brother of Romulus, with whom he founded Rome, and there are several statues in the city depicting the mythical Romulus and Remus suckled by the she-wolf.
Piazza del Campo has been the centre of Siena since Roman times, when the Romans had their Forum here.
During the Middle Ages, the city reached the peak of its historical and economic development and it was during this period that the main architectural elements that make the city’s skyline unique were built.
The Lombards arrived in the 6th century AD and later the Franks also ruled the city. A diverse group of rulers, including Emperor Charles V and Cosimo I de’ Medici, grew Siena’s economic power between the 14th and 19th centuries, thanks in part to the famous Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank, which ensured employment and security for the citizens of Siena through the centuries.
THE HERITAGE
Siena, located in the heart of Tuscany and surrounded by beautiful landscapes, is one of the most beautiful and important medieval cities in Italy.
The city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The recognition came for the urban and architectural features of the city’s historic centre: the palaces, monuments, churches, and urban spaces, which have evolved over the centuries, between the 12th and 15th centuries, when the Republic of Siena was the artistic and cultural centre of Europe.
Let yourself be surprised by the territory of Siena, its splendid attractions and traditions.
THE HISTORIC CENTRE
The heart of the city is the famous Piazza del Campo, with its particular shell shape, in which the famous Palio is held, one of the most important events for all the Sienese: the Palio di Siena is a thrilling horse race that takes place every year, in July and August, and its origins seem to go back as far as the 17th century. Piazza del Campo, the Torre del Mangia and the Duomo are breathtaking architectural beauties.
Siena has always managed to shine perfectly immersed in its medieval equilibrium.
THE BUON GOVERNO
The three hills on which Siena sits stand out in an idyllic country landscape, where the borders of the ancient centre fade into a countryside that at times still looks like the one portrayed in the Allegoria del Buon Governo (Allegory of Good Government) painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the rooms of the Palazzo Pubblico.
In Siena, you can get to know the many artistic beauties and traditions that make this beautiful place special, traditions that are not mere stories to be heard or told, but unique experiences to be lived with great emotion.
