| Siena |
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| Surrounded by olive trees and vineyards of the Chianti area, Siena is one of the most |
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| beautiful Tuscanian cities. Standing on the top of three hills, the city is characterised |
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| by wide boulevards and narrow alleys, that lead to one of the most charming places, |
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| in the heart of the city: the Piazza del Campo, one of the most fascinating Medieval |
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| Italian squares. Around the piazza are ranged the Gothic Palazzo Pubblico, the |
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| slender Torre del Mangia and the curvilinear Palazzo Sansedoni. Another heart of the |
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| city is represented by the Piazza del Duomo dominated by the massive marble |
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| structure of the church, an amazing edifice built in a partly Gothic and partly |
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| Romanesque style, with green and white marbles on the façade. In the same square |
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| there is also the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, that hosts a museum complex. |
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| But, the name of this city is indissolubly linked with the famous Palio delle Contrade |
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| that takes place twice a year. This is the historical horse race as well as the most |
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| famous, beautiful and deeply-felt Italian popular event. But Siena has also a long |
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| culinary tradition and walking down the streets there are several chances of yielding |
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| to temptations, maybe visiting bakeries and confectioner shops, or having a |
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| restorative break in one of the open air cafés, savouring delicious Sienese pastries as |
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| the panforte or the ricciarelli. |
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