Ciao Mieli! Week four, meaning a third of the way in and still absolutely in love with Italy. After our week in Rome, it was a pleasing feeling to return to a somewhat “normal” schedule of weekday classes and the usual Wednesday day trip.
This past Wednesday’s day trip was an adventure to the charming town of Siena. Siena is considered a neighboring Tuscan town to our beloved temporary home, Castiglion Fiorentino. Therefore, for the first time, we traveled by bus instead of train. I have to say for short trips, I love transportation via bus. Along our hour-long drive, our scenic view of Tuscan fields and country homes was absolutely stunning and one of the best parts of the trip.
Once in Siena, the architecture and communication students separated into two groups each with our own tour guide. Our guide, Ricardo, was brilliant and beautifully adapted his conversation to the things we exhibited interest in. He took us through narrow and winding cobblestone streets to the well-known Piazza del Campo, a famous shell-shaped square known for housing competitive horse races. We also visited the Palazzo Pubblico and its adjacent Tower of Mangia. Inside the Palazzo, I was specifically fascinated by one such room that depicted an allegory with frescos along each wall. One of the four walls portrayed the players in the government, while the two adjoining walls revealed the effects of a good or evil government. It was interesting to see how the walls representing good and evil governments mirrored each other. Lastly, we visited the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption or the Siena Cathedral. The cathedral was by far the most outstanding and extraordinary church I have yet to witness. There is so much impressiveness seen merely in the details. The floors resembled rugs with intricate and colorful designs. Among the most prominent aspect of the church’s design is the black and white striped marble that is representative of Siena’s black and white crest. After the tour, we were free to roam and feed ourselves for a couple hours. Sydney, Lainey and I were joined by our teacher, Dr. Tarvin, for a lunch consisting of very large pizzas. We spent the rest of our scenic time moving in and out of quaint local shops and admiring the lovely atmosphere around us.
One of the most fascinating qualities and my favorite part of Siena is its districts. Siena is split among several districts, each of which have their own church, crest, traditions, rivals, and more. I found each district so intriguing, especially when I asked almost everyone to choose which district they believed would personify themselves the best. For myself, I chose the “Contrada del Drago” or the district of the dragon. I cannot completely decipher why I chose this district, but I am passionate about it. There is something powerful and legendary about the dragon that inspires me. Additionally, the district was symbolized by an attractive crest with a daring green crowned dragon painted over a subtle silver shield. Among some of the mascots of other districts were the rhino, eagle, seashell, owl, panther, forest, and even a snail. The drive home was silent after a long day of amusement, but I remained awake for the majority and watched the unique Tuscan scenery pass by. Siena is a memorable and charming town that I would highly recommend to anyone who visits Tuscany. It is wild to think there is only one more week until our trip to Venice and then it is Spring Break. Oh how the time flies in its prime.
