In Siena - Fibonacci Scribble - CycleBlaze

May 7, 2022

In Siena

I had 5 day ride options ready for today, but we opted for a day off the bikes instead. All those options were loops to the south, and very idea of riding out of Siena and back in again was exhausting.  Plus, we’d already had two hilly days for our first rides in months and tomorrow’s route will be both longer and hillier.

So, more time to explore Siena. 

Our first venture was last evening:

What’s down there? It’s Il Campo! Can we climb that tower? Yes!
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The Duomo. Originally intended to be larger than the one in Florence, it was never completed but is still imposing.
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Keith AdamsAs explained to us, it was not finished because the Black Death killed many artisans and so much of the population that the remainder were unable to pay for the completion.
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2 years ago
Jacquie GaudetTo Keith AdamsThat sounds right.
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2 years ago
Margie AndersonOMG, OMG, gorgeous!
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2 years ago

At lunch yesterday, the daily special was not a “choose a first course, choose a second course” menu of the day, so Al decided to have one from each of the groups:  a primo (pasta), a secondo (he thought it’s soup but I was more octopus stew), and a contourno (accompaniment) of fried zucchini.  I just ordered pasta. The portions were much larger than the menu del giorno the previous day, so we were both stuffed.  A light dinner was in order.  We decided to share a pizza and a salad and this left room for dessert.  I wasn’t sure what I was getting when I ordered “Cantucci fatti in casa con vin santo deities Chianti classico” but this is what came:

Once it arrived, I remembered reading about this classic treat from Florence. It was good, though 8€ was rather steep. The pizza was the same price.
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This morning, our only goal was to climb the Torre del Mangia, built c. 1340 and one of Italy’s tallest secular towers.  Otherwise, just roaming.  

On the Loggia della Mercanzia
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On Il Campo, near the base of the Torre del Mangia
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In Il Campo
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While we were waiting for our time to climb the tower, we heard drums. A parade!   But it had passed by before we got to see it.  We heard it again shortly after coming back down, though.

View from the tower
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View from the tower
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View from the tower
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View from the tower
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View from the tower
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Looking down from Casato di Sotto
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These iron rings are everywhere, as are supports for contrade flags
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It was just after I took this photo that we heard the drums again so we raced to look.

The Oca (goose) contrada was parading today
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What’s a contrada?  I remembered reading about them, but here’s a good description Siena contrada life and an illustration of the territories and their symbols from that source:

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In the Selva contrada
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In the Selva contrada
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Siena
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Siena
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Another iron ring in a wall…
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Boundary between two contrade
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Window art (at the edge of a contrada)
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Via Santa Caterina. The 2022 edition of the pro race came up this street but today the Oca contrada is celebrating something.
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Looking back up Via Santa Caterina
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One of the guards, guarding the entrance to something and trying not to laugh while being teased n’y non-costumed friends
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The other guard
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Creation of Adam panel, Fonte Gaia in Il Campo
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One last view of Il Campo
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Kathleen ClassenSuch a beautiful spot. We are enjoying your blog immensely. Siena was one of our favourite spots when we continued our trip after my sojourn in the Garmisch hospital. Your pictures are reminding me of how amazing it was.
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2 years ago
Jacquie GaudetTo Kathleen ClassenIt is beautiful! And it seems the time is going by so fast! I guess that’s because it took so long to actually get here (originally planned and booked in 2019).
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2 years ago
Scott AndersonGreat idea to stay in town and get a proper look. You’re right, Siena is wearing to bike in and out of anyway. Great pics!
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