Day 7: Siena

On this day, Friday, we did a lot of sightseeing, from morning until dark. I truly enjoyed just experiencing this old medieval town. Some parts looked like it hadn't changed much in all those years. There is still a charm there that modernity, it seems, can't touch. Night, especially, is magical in Siena. It really comes alive, especially in Il Campo, the town "square". This is real Tuscany.

The austere dominican cathedral of San Domenico wherein lies the head and thumb of St. Catherine, patron saint of Siena. Her story is pretty interesting, but I still don't understand why you need to display the severed head of somebody in church. Call me crazy.

I know this is terribly blurry, but it was such an ethereal room in the Duomo museum that I had to snap it sans tripod.

The view from the top of the Duomo museum. We had climbed a bunch of narrow, winding stairs to get to this ballustrade that overlooked the Duomo courtyard on one side and the Siena countryside on the other.

More of the picturesque Siena countryside. For two boys from the high desert, this certainly looked green and inviting.

One of the gates into the Duomo courtyard.

This is the ballustrade we walked on that is part of the Duomo museum. It was supposed to be part of the nave of the church, the biggest in all of Christendom before a plague hit the city and left it unfinished.

The Façade of the Duomo.

Inside the dark, gothic cathedral (Duomo).

A view of the dome in the cathedral.

A street in Siena that I liked.

I dragged Jared around with me, my camera, and tripod to shoot some night scenes in Siena. If nothing else, it was a beautiful night!

This is Il Campo at night. There are a lot of restaurants along the inside permiter.

The tower at Il Campo.

Another side to Il Campo.

The next day can be found here.