Gothic architecture on the side of the duomo.
How do you make a gargoyle to wrap around a corner...hmmm...
Top of the duomo.
Majolica shops are everywhere in Italy.
Down a side alley in Siena... the stall where one of the contradas keeps its prized horse during the race. Someone stays with the animal 24/7 for the week before the race, to protect it from any suspicious activity.
In the main piazza where the annual horse race takes place.
The floor of the cathedral...just the floor...overall it is very overwhelming. Very rich. The floor is uncovered only once a year for viewing.
In the duomo.
The main duomo, or cathefral.
The duomo.
Last year's horse race winners...
Went to the town of Siena on Friday. This was our least favorite trip. The city has good architecture and history, but it is very urban and crowded, and there was very little time to actually see or do anything. It was a rushed trip.
Sienna is known for its annual horse race, a competition between local neighborhoods or contradas. Each contrada sponsors a horse and rider, and about ten to thirteen competitors run three (?) laps around the main piazza in the center of town. The riders must ride bareback and it is very treacherous. If a rider falls off, but his horse continues to the finish line, the contrada still wins. It is the horse the wins the race, riderless or not. This is a frenzied and highly competitive event... I don't think even the Packers and the Vikings have a greater rivalry.
The floor of the main duomo (cathedral) is uncovered only once a year for viewing, and we were lucky enough to see it. The duomo is extremely awe-inspiring...grandiose. Very beautiful, very Rennaissance, very midieval. It is dark inside...they were not yet into large stained glass windows. Built around 1250.















