A Stroll Through Medieval Italy

Lunch on the plaza
see all photos »

After a week in Rome, we were a little "big citied out" and so decided that the perfect medicine was a day trip to the medieval town of Siena! So we jumped on a couple of trains (almost missing our connecting train after our first train was late) and by mid morning we had arrived!

Siena is a lovely little town fully of winding little streets and old medieval brick houses in various shades of "burnt sienna" which make for an enchanting little place to wander. You almost feel like you are living in the days of old, especially when all the old candle holders, horse poles and coats of arms still stand! You notice the old statues and signs representing feuding groups of citizens from medieval times!

You almost feel like you are living in the days of old

The view from the tower
see all photos »

The main square of the town is enormous (it needs to be because every year they run a bareback horse race around it) and the perfect spot to lay down in the sun! After a lovely lunch overlooking the square, we decided to work off those calories by climbing the town bell tower. What felt like a million steps later up the narrowest of stairways, we had finally reached the top, only to be almost blown off again by the strong winds! But it was all worth it because the views were absolutely breathtaking! The town of Siena, including the fortified wall all around it, and the beautiful Tuscan countryside all around it was laid out before us and it was just spectacular!

An Italian town scene
see all photos »

After taking an aerial view of the town, it was time to get up close and personal with Siena and get to our favourite pastime of town wandering! We like to start at one road and take it in turn to see who chooses which direction we turn. Its amazing how many wonderful and unexpected places you find this way! On this occasion, the wandering took us among lovely narrow old streets and big old medieval brick buildings preserved from many years ago! For us, it was almost a trip back in time!

The beautiful medieval streets
see all photos »

We took the scenic route back to the train station, trying to find a market that we had spotted on the way in, but alas it was all done and dusted by then. So on we hopped to our train back to Rome, with the memories of this lovely little town fresh in our mind!