Siena, Tuscany, Italy 12/2013
On the way to Rome, Siena had never really been on Gary’s main wish list but so many people raved about it we had to check it out. Like Florence, there were a lot of things to see, so we again had to make a careful selection. As it turned out everything of most importance was all in one place; the Cathedral, the Baptistery of St. John, the Cathedral’s Piccolomini Library, the Museum and its attached Tower, and the underground excavations of the Crypt.
The Cathedral (Il Duomo) was as marvelous as expected with its multi-columned midrif. The ornately painted dome could give you a stiff neck just admiring it. The inlaid marble mosaic floor covering the whole Cathedral is one of the most ornate of its kind in Italy. The copy of the stained-glass window by Duccio di Buoninsegna was captivating as the sun filtered through it. (The original is safely displayed in the museum, see photo below.) The Cathedral’s Library was exquisite. The frescoes on the walls of the Baptistery had such detail that they seemed lifelike. Of course we had to climb the currently being renovated museum tower for the view.
Despite its name and location, the Cripta is not exactly a crypt – it was never used for burials. It was constructed at the same time as the Duomo – in the 13th century. Expansion work on the choir beginning in 1317 required dismantling the crypt’s vault, while the construction of the baptistery soon destroyed the facade. The crypt was subsequently used as a storeroom for construction materials and then closed up for good.
It lay unseen for nearly 700 years until its re-discovery during routine excavations in the Duomo in 1999. The frescoes had been remarkably preserved. Flash photography was not permitted, but bumping the ASA up to 1600 we were able to get a few impressions.
As a special bonus, we noticed that there was an exhibit by Steve McMurry, the famous National Geographic and Magnum photographer, best known for his memorable portrait of ”The Afghan Girl”. In one word, the exhibit, now traveling around Europe, is “spectacular”! For us, being photographers and especially liking pictures of the people, it was a real education just studying his techniques for taking the amazing portraits he had captured from around the world.
The city of Siena was a delight to wander about. The town is also famous for its hand-painted pottery. The temptation to take some along was met with the probability that it would never reach California unbroken. Before we left, we stumbled upon a little coffee roaster shop and picked up the owner’s favorite blend.
-
- Siena viewed from the other side of the canyon.
-
- The façade of the 13th century Cathedral of Siena is one of the most fascinating in Italy.
-
- The multi columned midrif of the Siena Cathedral is quite unique.
-
- The dome of the Cathedral was a work of art and architecture.
-
- The inner circle of the dome was hard to see from below. Thank goodness for telephoto!
-
- Always an impressive part of cathedrals, this massive organ was quiet when we were there.
-
- The frescoes in the cathedral were fascinating. If we only understood the stories….
-
- A stained-glass window that Duccio di Buoninsegna executed for the oculus of the apse of the Cathedral of Siena is now in the adjacent museum. A copy is in its place.
-
- The inlaid marble mosaics of the Cathedral floor are some of the most ornate of its kind in Italy.
-
- This marble inlay scene on the Cathedral floor was just remarkable. Even our favorite animal was part of the picture!
-
- The spectacularly sculpted pulpit was astounding in its detail.
-
- People light candles in rememberence of their loved ones.
-
- The manger scene was one of the more life-like ones we have seen.
-
- The frescoes on the walls of the Piccolomini Library were exquisite.
-
- The beautiful ceiling of the Piccolomini Library attached to the Cathedral could give you a stiff neck.
-
- The center of the highly decorated Baptistery was the baptismal font.
-
- This section of the Baptistery’s ceiling was very beautiful.
-
- This geometric marble design in the Baptistry reminded us of a beautiful carpet.
-
- Can you imagine this painting called La Madonna del Latte (mother of the milk) by Ambrogio Lorenzetti being from the 13th century, on exhibit in Siena’s Crypt. Behind glass it was hard to take a decent photo so we couldn’t resist snapping one of a nearby poster.
-
- Time for a souvenir shot.
-
- From our view point we could see the Torre del Mangia towering above of the Palazzo Pubblico.
-
- Views from the top of the tower attached to the museum.
-
- The recently excavated Crypt beneath the Cathedral contained some amazing frescoes that had been lost for 700 years.
-
- More than an exhibit, it was an education to see the work of this master of portraits, Steve McMurry.
-
- We watched the National Geographic video searching for the Afghan girl. They found her.
-
- The tourists in Siena were mostly young Italians who came to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
-
- A street scene….
-
- A place to tie your horse up?
-
- Siena is also famous for its beautiful pottery.
-
- On the way out we stumbled across this small coffee roaster shop so we picked up some of his favorite blend for the road.
On the way to Rome, Siena had never really been on Gary’s main wish list but so many people raved about it we had… http://t.co/oyv2MBpGf9