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SIENA
This beautiful medieval city is renowned for the Palio. Siena is built on three hills and surrounded by walls. This art city is full of fine examples of Gothic architecture. It also has one of the world's most unique piazzas. According to a legend, Siena founded by Senio and Ascanio, sons of Remus, a mythlogical character of the famous duo Romulus and Remus who also founded Rome. Statues of the wolf feeding the twins can be spotted throughout Siena.
Some of the charming events that lights up the city are listed below:
Palio di Siena - This is celebrated in the months of July and August. Every year, it witnesses a horse race that crosses the entire city, starting from Porta Camollia and ending at the Duomo. Tourists are attracted to the cultural as well as the adventurous touch this event has got to itself.
International Short Film Festival - This film Festival is celebrated in the month of November. This festival has been organized from the year of 1995. The main aim of this Film Festival is the promotion of short films by Italian and foreign artists.
The Oil and Wine week - The month of February, sees the oil and wine week. This event is organized by the Enoteca Italiana and the National Oil City Association. A whole week is dedicated to oil and wine, during which workshops, free tasting and conferences are organized.
Apart from these events, the places worth visit in Siena are:
The Duomo - This is the prettiest church of Italy. It is built in Gothic style. The facade contains a large inlaid floor, which holds the holy scenes created by several artists of the time like the great Pinturicchio.
The Church of Sant'Agostino - It was constructed around the year 1258. The main attractions of this church are the famous "Crocefissione" by Perugino and "La Maesta" by Lorenzetti.
Siena Civic Museum - Situated inside the Municipal Building, this museum offers a wonderful work of Gothic architecture. It houses several masterpieces by Siena and Italian artists: panels, canvases and frescoes that show the evolution of art from the 14th to the 18th centuries.
National Picture Gallery - Situated inside the Palazzo Buonsignori, this gallery houses a valuable collection of masterpieces of Siena art, painted between the 13th and 17th centuries, including the "Madonna con Bambino" by Simone Martini and "la Piccola Maesta" by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.