View Article: Siena

	Siena
	written by Sadie Dobrozsi / 07.04.2004

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Site Location

map of Italy

Siena is located in Tuscany in central Italy. The city is situated on three gently swelling hills in a small range.

Site History

Siena was founded by Senius, son of Remus, and then became the Roman colony Saena Julia. Siena flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries and became a wealthy republic as a result of banking and wool trade. The 14th century saw extensive building and just as the city became a rural market center they were struck with Black Plague (1348).

The city is divided into 17 contrade, well defined neighborhoods established to aid military companies in the Middle Ages. While they no longer hold military importance they are held together by the tradition of the people who live there. Events (baptisms, deaths, marriages, church holidays etc.) are celebrated by the contrade and the contrade only. It is still condsidered a bad idea to marry outside the contrade.

Elements of Interest

Duomo

Il Palio

Piazza del Campo: The Piazza del Campo has been, since its construction, the center of Siena and the site of all executions, bullfights, political happenings, and entertainment. The marketplace, completed in 1349, lies at the center of all districts of the city, all main roads lead into it. It is divided into nine sections to represent the government of Nine Good Men from the 13th century.

Duomo: Construction of this cathedral (formally Catedrale di Santa Maria) began in the 12th century and continued well into the 14th when much of the project was abondoned because of the Black Plague. The Duomo was designed by Giovanni Pisano and contains works of Donatello, Michelangelo, Giovani, Nicola Pisano, and Pinturicchio.

Il Palio: A semi-annual horse race held on July 2 and August 16. Each neighborhood competes in a barebacked horse race in Il Campo in honor of the Virgin Mary.

Analyze Image

Duomo steps with tourists

This picture shows a very small portion of the massive Duomo. The enormity of the cathedral is more recognizable when contrasted with the toursists gathering on the front steps.

Site Questions

What defines the contrades?
How are the riders for Il Palio chosen?
What does the winner get?

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