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Cottage holiday in Siena self catering in Siena vacation rentals in villa holiday apartments farmhouse in Siena. Siena Chianti Senese Murlo Colle Val D'elsa Siena Crete Senesi Val d'Arbia di Merse di Chiana d'Orcia Amiata Radda in Chianti Casole d'Elsa Sinalunga Lucignano Cetona Monteriggioni. Siena San Gimignano town Cannot find an accommodation on welcometuscany? try our partners: Villa holiday house hotel in all Italy by www.clickz.it Villa holiday house hotel B&B in tuscany by www.clickz.it Online direct booking in Tuscany and Italy.

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Siena downtown San Gimignano Charming hills around Siena Chianti area Senese Monteriggioni Montalcino Montepulciano Murlo Poggibonsi Colle di Val D'elsa Crete Senesi Val d'Arbia Val di Merse Val di Chiana Val d'Orcia Amiata Vico Alto San Quirico d'Orcia Cetona

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vicinity map of Siena area

Siena, international place of culture, that boasts of an University from 750 years and gives hospitality to prestigious Institutes like the Chigiana Musical Academy, the University for Foreigners, the Academy of Fisiocritici and Intronati, seat of meetings and congresses. The town, where every stone remained unchanged during the centuries, where you can breath an atmosphere that can be found nowhere else, because its people kept their fathers' traditions alive, like those connected with the Palio Feast, renewing them every year with unchanged strength and enthusiasm.

Of Etruscan origin, it was a Roman colony with the name of Sena Julia; its importance grew in the Middle Ages, first as the seat of Lombard gastalds, and then of Counts under the Carolingian domination. After a long period of episcopal dominion (9th-11th century) the town reached a peak of power after becoming a municipality (1147), undertaking a policy of expansion towards the bordering territories. Confrontation with Florence was inevitable and the struggle lasted, with various vicissitudes, until 1555, when after a long siege, Siena was conquered by the Florentines, losing its autonomy and becoming part of the Duchy, sharing its fortunes until unification with Italy.

This town is of great environmental and artistic interest with a wealth of important monuments including: Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Italy, Palazzo Pubblico (13th-14th century in Gothic style) overlooked by the bold Torre del Mangia (14th century, 102 m. high) and Palazzo Sansedoni (13th-14th century, altered in the 19th century); in Piazza del Duomo lie the Duomo (12th-14th century), one of the best examples of Gothic in Italy, with beautiful graffito and intarsia flooring, Libreria Piccolomini (in the left aisle, with valuable 16th century frescoes) and the 14th century Baptistry (font by Jacopo della Quercia), the Spedale di S. Maria della Scala (13th-14th century) and the remains of the Duomo Nuovo (14th century).

A few geographic areas in the world can boast of the variety of environments and economies that characterizes the territory of Siena. We start to the north with the superlative richness of Chianti landscape, spangled with vines and olive-trees that silhouette on hills tamed by the wise rule of the farmer work. There, where the plain has taken meters from the heights, like in Poggibonsi and Colle Bassa, the industrial development could weave a thick weft of small and medium firms. It is however on the hills that old hands built the walls of Monteriggioni and San Gimignano. They are today lively places of tourist attraction that rise suggestive like lonely knights against the moon profile. Then westwards, with many panoramas: the wide and shadowy forests of Montagnola are well-matched with those penetrating the municipalities of Monticiano and Chiusdino, that are very original as regards fauna and game. The water of the Merse and Farma rivers gives birth to habitats of absolute naturalistic interest. At the extreme edge of the province, the earth swollen with humours bores through the sky of Radicondoli with gas jets: the geothermal area with its violent energy potential reminds of the myth of the gods' forge, the benevolent joke of a joking alchemist lying in ambush in the underground. That's not all. Even to the south of Siena the variety plays the lord and master.

The pleasant Arbia valley framed by the agile poplar rows leads to a going up of hills that end up in the many-towered top of Montalcino, home of the valued Brunello. To the side, the earth dries up in the characteristic landscape of the "chalks", as white as bread, at precipice in its gullies seized to the green of lonely and proud cypresses at the top of the borders. If more eastwards the healthy water of Rapolano repairs the numerous failures of the feverish modern living, southwards the Orcia valley closes with harsh stretch that part of Tuscan territory, called "Siena" Siena is the heart of this exceptional geographic and environmental repertory that contains in each village treasures of art and historical memories of priceless value. Siena, that is the quality of life made into town. The first Town of Europe that already closed its center to the traffic since 1966.

According to legend Siena was founded by Senio, the son of Remus one of the two founders of Rome. The origin for the name of Siena, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and in the world, is still a matter of research. Some attribute it to the Etruscan family of the Saina, some to the Roman family of the Saenii. It is certain that its development only took off in the Middle Ages, when it expanded towards three nucleuses which later became known as the "tertiary ": the original city center, San Martino and Camollia. A Ghibelline city, Siena often crossed swords with the Florentine Guelfs in epic and cruel battles that forged the history of medieval Italy. One of the most famous battles was Montaperti on 4 September 1260, when the Sienese routed the Florentines.

The city reached its peak of splendor in the 1300's, when most of the civic monuments were built and the construction of the monumental new Duomo, or church, was attempted. In 1348, however, Siena was laid low by the Black Death, which like an earthquake exterminated three fifths of the population. After a period of obscurity and alternating domination by other powers, in 1559 Siena became part of the grand duchy of Tuscany, effectively losing its own independence. With its brilliant Tuscan Gothic buildings, Siena is a jewel of world-wide fame. However, its surroundings also merit consideration. The natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside carries equal weight to the fascination of its perfectly-conserved medieval cities, for example San Gimignano.

The Palazzo Pubblico, Piazza del Campo
begun between 1297-1305 and completed c. 1326

The Palazzo Pubblico, complete with chapel and meeting rooms, once housed the Podestà and the Council; today it is a kind of town hall. Made of red brick (typical of Siena) with a travertine base, it presents the image of a fortress, "but, where a working fortress would have real machicolations, this civic fortress has only heavy corbels resembling machicolations" (Norman 41). The blind arcade on the ground level suggests commercialism rather than fortification as well. The Gothic mullioned windows were later copied in other Sienese buildings. The Palazzo Pubblico is the most monumental building surrounding the Campo, the most important public space in Siena. The Campo was paved in 1333-34, signalling its importance in civic life. The Campo is also famous as the site for the Palio (horse race) as well as other yearly events. The Cappella di Piazza, a small chapel, is to the left, above which rises the Torre del Mangia, a tall bell-tower--102M to the tip of the ironwork, built between 1325-44. The tallest tower in the city, and taller than the one on the Palazzo Vecchio built somewhat earlier in Florence, it rang the time and announced curfews, as well as calling the Council to meetings.

The economy is still based on the commerce of agricultural produce from the surrounding areas, and industry, though present in the foodstuff (confectionery) and pharmaceutical sectors, is not highly developed. Tourism is of importance (linked also to the famous Palio), as are cultural activities (University, Academies) and crafts (ceramics, wrought ironwork). Banking is relevant to a certain extent; it flourished here in the Middle Ages and one of the banks is of international importance (Monte dei Paschi).

Events: Palio delle Contrade (2nd July and 16th August), Festa di S. Caterina (29th April), Musical Weeks in Siena (September).

Famous People: Antonio Federighi (architect, 1420 circa-1490), Jacopo della Quercia (sculptor, 1361-1438), Duccio di Buoninsegna (artist, 1255-1319), Simone Martini (artist, 1284-1344), Stefano di Giovanni called the `Sassetta' (artist, 1392-1451), Ambrogio Lorenzetti (artist, d. 1347), Pietro Lorenzetti (artist, 1280-1345 circa), Saint Catherine (1347-1380).

Cultural Institutions: Accademia dei Fisiocritici, Chigiana Musical Academy, Rozzi Academy, Accademia Senese degli Intronati, Biblioteca degli Intronati (library), State Art School, National Archeological Museum, Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana (among others, works by G. Pisano, Jacopo della Quercia, S. Martini, P. Lorenzetti), Civic Museum, National Art Gallery, University.

In the Province: Montepulciano (city of art), S. Gimignano (city of art), Pienza (environmental and urban interest), Poggibonsi (agricultural and industrial centre), Chiusi (environmental interest, Etruscan Museum), Chianciano Terme (spa).

THE PALIO
Il Palio is a an horse race held twice each year, in which the horse and rider represent one of the seventeen contrade, city wards. Both horse and rider are dressed in the colours and weapons of the wards: Tortoise, Wave, She-Wolf, Goose, Shell, Porcupine, Dragon, Owl, Snail, Panther, Eagle, Caterpillar, Unicorn, Ram, Giraffe, Forest and Tower.

The two races, held on July 2 and August 16, only consists of 10 horses, which means that every year, only three of the city wards takes part in the palio twice.

The race itself runs thrice round the Piazza del Campo. The riders, or fantini, ride the horses bareback from the starting line, where there's only place for 9 horses. The 10th, the rincorsa, stands behind those nine. The start is given by a local authority called Mossiere, that has to wait for all the horses being in the correct position; when this moment is (with a huge difficulty) achieved, he activates a mechanism that instantly removes the canapo, the starting chord.

On the dangerous track, on which several riders and horses have died, the riders are allowed to use their whips not only for their own horse, but also for disturbing other horses and riders. The winner is the first horse to cross the finish line with its head ornaments in tact - the riders does not necessarily have to finish.

The winner is awarded a banner of silk, or a painting, called palio. The enthusiasm after the vistory, however, is so extreme that the ceremony of attribution of the Palio is quite instantaneous, being the first moment of a long celebrating time for the winning ward.

After the race, a certain curiosity might traditionally regard the result of the bets that the inhabitants of each contrada (Contradaioli) made about the Palio; frequently, the loosers have to publicly perform funny actions.

The race is usually preceded by a spectacular exhibition of Sbandieratori, flag-wavers, in medieval costumes.

Although often contested, there is no serious evidence that horses are treated with drugs before the race. Some more concrete suspects usually regard the eventual corruption of some fantini.

San Rocco a Pilli town
The town of San Rocco a Pilli is situated in an area characterised by the beauty of its plains of wheat and sunflowers in the magnificent countryside south of Siena. This is a good departure point for easily reaching the most important historical localities: San Gimignano, Montalcino, the Chianti and all the principle wine-growing centres in Tuscany.

Grotti town and the little village of Ville di Corsano
Grotti is a small village southwest of Siena (12 km), on the hills between the Arbia and Merse valleys, near "Ville di Corsano". Not far from the village stands the imposing Castello di Grotti one of the most beautiful in the area.(10 minute drive to Siena) Its two medieval towers were part of the defense system of the Republic of Siena. The castle is less than a kilometer from the village of "Ville di Corsano" which has a small grocery store, post office, bar and a convenience store.The estate that we cultivate is located in the Comune (local district) of Sovicille, near the medieval town of "Orgia" where "Casa del Fabbro" is located. In the "Comune of Monteroni d’Arbia" near the little village of "Ville di Corsano" is the other part, centered on Castello di Grotti.