STL DPB ON THE ROAD - IL CAMPO

Il Campo, the central plaza of Siena. It was paved with brick in 1347 and divided by marble strips to create a shell shape. The major buildings in the center-right are the Torre di Mangia and Palazzo Pubblico.            

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - SIENA SKYLINE

We visited the civic museum in the Palazzo Pubblico, whose courtyard was in yesterday's post. A couple of floors up there were windows looking southeast across the city to the valley below. The view gives some idea of how steep and high the climb is from the parking lots at the base. The church is the Basilica of San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi, https://tinyurl.com/mu9xm24 .  We had not heard of it until I did some research to identify it in this photo. The outside is plain but the interior is spectacular. We wish we had gotten there.              

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - THE HEART OF SIENA

The very center of the old city of Siena is the fan-shaped plaza known as Il Campo, or The Field (even though it is paved). It slopes downward from the curve of the fan to a center point at the Palazzo Pubblico and the famous Torre del Mangia. The palazzo contains the civic museum, which is worth a visit. The entrance courtyard is open to the sky, making for a dramatic view.         

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - THE TALE OF THE POOPED OUT TOURIST

Okay, admit it. We are old. Pretty healthy but not in top physical condition. We did well enough in Bologna, which is flat, but Siena is all hills. 10,000 steps today, up and down, a lot for me, and my legs feel like putty. Not quite like this when we got back to the hotel (he is obviously young and strong, but maybe having a bad day) but it's got us thinking about maybe river cruises for future travel.

This was found in the Museo Civico on Il Campo, the central public space of Siena. We could not find anything to explain it. I'd share some of my naproxen with him. We plan an easier day today, driving toward Montepulciano and Orvieto. Might buy some wine.