Day trip to Siena

Day trip to Siena today, steady day, about 80 kilometres drive along the Autostrade to Siena.  We had a bit of a look on the map and had a couple of things we wanted to see in Siena.  Even Kate got confused with the street layout.  Finally made it to a park where we wouldn’t get towed or fined.  Siena makes Towong look flat.  Every street in the city centre is about 10 foot across and at an angle which when walking up and down really tests the calves.

Went into a couple of chapels/churches on the way to the Cathedral. One of these was the church of the San Domenico, huge church with an altar area about 15 metres across, then 3 chapels on either side.  There were also small praying areas down each side.  In one of these, on display, is the head of St Catherine – a little old and mummified and even a little gruesome.  St Catherine was martyred in about 1380 and they have kept her head here since – talk about hoarders!!!!

Church of San Domenica - housing the odd head or two.

Got to the Cathedral square and there was the Fiat 500 convention in progress, quite a site seeing all the old cars done up and then watching them all drive off, some having to be push started.  Crowds everywhere and no thought to any safety issues, just toot and drive.

A square full of Fiat 500s'.

But is it safe?

The Cathedral was of course made of marble, the interesting thing about the Siena cathedral is that they used black and white marble to make a striking looking building.  The effects are even carried through into the inside and it certainly makes for a memorable site.  Had a quick lunch in the city square then headed through the Chianti/Tuscan hills for a slow drive home.

The church from a distance - up and down about 4 hills before we get to it.

But worth the wait - a little Vernon having a wave.

See the effects of the black and white marble.

Pam lighting another candle for those who need it.

The pulpit.

This is a small section (about a foot high) of the floor - all done in black and white marble and there is acres of it.

All black and white.

Pam heading down to the town square for lunch.

 

The town hall in the town square.  The town square is so big they hold a race meeting in it every year.

 We then headed into the hills of Tuscany for a slow drive home.  The winding road made for a special experience and the pictures we see of Tuscany really are exactly what it is in real life (fancy that!!).  Up into the Chianti hills and on to Florence.

All the hills were a site.

House after house, farm after farm.

All look like postcards.

Got back close to Florence about 4pm and drove into town to visit the inside of the Cathedral, was almost a letdown after seeing the inside of the Siena Cathedral.  Don’t let any Florentines hear you say that though – there is quite a bit of rivalry between the towns.

Walking back to our car – almost tea time, we found (Pam found) a little bar, we went in to have a wine, spend about 2 hours there, they have a happy hour where they brought out all sorts of food, cheeses, bruchetta (made with tomatoes, herbs, octopus), olives.  Had ourselves a little feed and got back home at 8pm ready to crash. 

The altar of the Florence Cathedral.