Siena
Siena is a classic medieval hill town in Tuscany famous for its large fan-shaped piazza. Piazza del Campo is the heart of the town and is the home to the famous summer horse-race, known as Il Palio. Its peak was about 1260-1348 when it was one of Europe's wealthiest cities and many of its buildings and art works originate from that time. Siena is about 200km north of Rome and 60km south of Florence near the center of the Tuscany region (Tuscany map). Between it and Florence lies the Chianti Wine Region.
Siena, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900–400 BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. The Etruscans were an advanced people who changed the face of central Italy through their use of irrigation to reclaim previously unfarmable land, and their custom of building their settlements in well-defended hill-forts. A Roman town called Saena Julia was founded at the site in the time of the Emperor Augustus.
Read MoreSiena, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900–400 BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. The Etruscans were an advanced people who changed the face of central Italy through their use of irrigation to reclaim previously unfarmable land, and their custom of building their settlements in well-defended hill-forts. A Roman town called Saena Julia was founded at the site in the time of the Emperor Augustus.
