Siena with all her churches, narrow streets & steep alleys

Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - (Photos taken Saturday and Sunday)

Siena, probably Italy's best preserved medieval city, is divided into 17 neighborhoods (contrade), and the contrade symbols (turtle, goose, porcupine, etc.) can be seen on banners fluttering in the breeze and on the sides of buildings in each neighborhood. The Sienese strongly identify themselves with the neighborhood where they were born and raised.

The city is filled with narrow streets, steep alleys, and many churches. The most famous is the beautiful Gothic Duomo - in the same style as the Duomos in Florence and Pisa. The narrow streets, paved with brick and stone worn down by the footsteps of the ages, were shaded and cool as we strolled early Sunday morning to the clanging of the church bells from the different bell towers.

Even though the streets are very narrow, often steep and filled with pedestrians - that does not deter the cars and motorbikes from speeding through the town. In most of the Italian towns, a pedestrian in a crosswalk has no significance where a motorist is concerned.