SienaRamparts - just one of the many vestiges of the city's medieval prime - still crown the hills that surround gentle Siena. Its many reddish-brown buildings gave the world 'burnt sienna,' and a thriving cultural scene was dubbed the Sienese school in the 13th and 14th centuries. Plague and autocrats from the Viscontis to the Medicis brought urban growth and cultural finesse to a screaming halt, the rot setting in with the plague of 1348, which killed 65,000 of the city's 100,000 people. Fortunately, Italy's finest medieval square - the Piazza del Campo - was finished just in time, with the graceful town hall and emblemic tower nearby. Siena's duomo is a stunner, with black and white stripes of marble on the facade. Palazzos, piazzas, art collections, museums and churches are scattered throughout the easily walkable old town, making Siena a great destination for visitors who like to see things from the pavement up.
Only 14 of the original 72 towers remain, but this wonderfully preserved medieval city in Tuscany is still known as San Gimignano of the Fine Towers.
The
towers reflect a period in Italian history when neighbours were particularly
quarrelsome and a person's house really was their castle, with points scored
for the highest tower. Crenellated palazzos and soaring towers circle the
town's major piazzas, with Torre Grossa the tallest tower at 54m. A Romanesque
cathedral, ruined fortress, frescoed church and a fabulous museum featuring
art from the Sienese and Florentine schools round off this special city's
charms.
ANTIQUE
FAIR The fair takes place in Piazza San Francesco’s extraordinary scenario, Piazza Grande and the Logge Vasari.
For over twenty years, every first Sunday and the Saturday preceding the fair has become a meeting place for curious and enthusiasts alike.It has been calculated that an average of 20.000 people visit the fair, among which of course many tourists.
Cinque Terre
If you blink, you'll miss the five magnificent villages of the Cinque Terre, but you'll never forgive yourself if you do. The villages are wedged into the impossibly mountainous countryside that borders coastal Liguria in the northwest of the country, and as yet the ravages of uncontrolled
tourism
have been kept in check. The towns are connected by a scenic pathway that
winds along the terraced hillside through olive groves and vineyards. The
towns are car-free too. Riomaggiore overlooks a tiny cove, and fishing boats
rule the roost, lying along the shore and even in the small square. Lovers'
Lane links the village with Manarola, the most picturesque of the five villages.
Corniglia is not for the faint-hearted, as it sits high above the water
and is reached by tortuous steps. Vernazza makes the most of its sea views,
with a promenade and a piazza overlooking the water. Finally, Monterosso
overlooks the only real beach in the vicinity, and features huge statues
carved into the rocks that overlook it.