UNDER THE TUSCAN CLOUDS

Siena was... an experience.
Caroline and I were suppose to go on a planned out tour with Carrara's Renaissance Art class buuuut we got a little lost along the way. So, we woke up at 7am to shower and get dressed and walk over to the train station by 8:30am. Dragging our feet to the Santa Maria Train Station, we walked around the building 3 times, frantically searching for our tour group as the clock chimmed closer and closer to 8:50am-when the bus left. And it did leave. And we got left behind. So Caroline and I ran to the trainstation to buy a ticket for the 9:00 train, which was the only train we could take to Siena to get there in time for the tour. We got our tickets with 3 minutes to spare, ran to the train and breathlessly sat down. Finaly we were relaxed.. until we realied that we forgot to validate our train tickets. SO we ran to find the ticket manager and explain our situation and he started yelling at us and tried to throw us off the train while also attempting to make us pay 40euro extra. We tried our best to look young and confused and the man finally got frusterated and walked away, ignoring the fact that he had ever seen us on the train (at least we didnt have to pay)

THE SIENA CATHEDRAL

From there we took a bus half way up Siena, where we got lost again and after wandering the streets for half an hour we saw the bell tour of the Siena Cathedral. Oh, I forgot to mention that it was pouring rain and windy at this point also. So we went seeking refuge into the Cathedral, (the ticket manager let us in for free seeing how miserable and cold we were) and we waited for another hour for the tour group to meet us with us. Haha.

Siena's cathedral, the Duomo, begun in the twelfth century, is one of the great examples of Italian romanesque architecture. Inside is the famous Gothic octagonal pulpit by Nicola Pisano supported on lions, and the labyrinth inlaid in the flooring, traversed by penitents on their knees. Within the Sacristy are some perfectly preserved renaissance frescos by Pintoricchio, who also assisted Perugino in the Sistine Chapel, and beneath the Duomo in the baptistry is the baptismal font with bas-reliefs by Donatello, Ghiberti, Jacopo della Quercia and other 15th century sculptors.

THE MUSEO DELL' OPERA
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo contains Duccio's famous Maestà and various other works by Sienese masters. More Sienese paintings are to be found in the Pinacoteca.

HUNDREDS OF TILED ROOFTOPS

MYSELF & CAROLINE

GORGEOUS VIEWS

Nearby we climbed the steps of the Facciatone to its narrow viewing platform for an amazing view of Siena, including the Cathedral and the Campo!! It was gorgeous! The best view I've ever seen. Hopefully I'll be able to return to Siena in the Spring time when it will be a little warmer and sunnier! Ciao ciao!