- Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
The church dates from 1226-1265, but was enlarged in the 14th century. - Love will save the world
L'Amore salva il Mondo by Andrea Roggi (2017). - Siena Cathedral
- Love will save the world
Detail of the statue by Andrea Roggi. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
There were several flags in the church, including this one with an angry-looking fish. Actually, the flags represent different districts (contrada) of Siena. This one represents Onda, a district of carpenters. And that is a dolphin. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
Now this is a wonderful window! - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
It does look strangely empty. - Piazza Salimbeni
The statue of Sallustio Bandini (1677-1760) by Tito Sarrocchi (1880). Bandini was an archdeacon, economist, and politician. - Via Banchi di Sopra
These are very strange bouquets of light bulbs. - Palazzo Tolomei
Palazzo was built in 1270-1275. It used to be a bank... and it still is. - Loggia della mercanzia
This loggia for merchants was constructed in 1417-1444. - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Pastorino dei Pastorini (1549-1552). - Siena souvenirs
Unfortunately they didn't have the right size ;-) - Palazzo Pubblico
Palazzo Publico (town hall) in the Piazza del Campo. The palace is from 1297 and the tower (Torre del Mangia) from 1338-1348. - Piazza del Campo
- Piazza del Campo
This is the central water drain in the square, called gavinone. - Torre del Mangia
The tower was built in 1338-1348. Its height is exactly the same ad the height of the cathedral, indicating equal powers of the church and the state. - Palazzo Pubblico
A statue in the courtyard of Palazzo Publico. - Siena Cathedral
Built in 1196-1215. - Siena Cathedral
The oldest bell in the tower is from 1149. - Siena Cathedral
She-wolf of Siena, surrounded with emblems of confederate cities, dating from 1373. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Pinturicchio's Mount of Wisdom (1505): Fortuna, holding a horn of plenty and a wind-swollen sail. She, standing on a sphere and a boat with a broken mast, brought the wise men to the island. - Siena Cathedral
The dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern. - Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
Pulpit by Nicola Pisano (1268). The panels narrate the Life of Christ and the central column shows Seven Liberal Arts: Grammar, Dialectica, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Arithmetic, Music, and Astronomy. - Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
Detail of Liberation of Bethulia, made in 1473 possibly by Urbano da Cortona. This is the story about Judith and Holofernes. - Siena Cathedral
One of the scenes on pulpit: Massacre of the Innocents - Siena Cathedral
A wonderful ceiling, but these heads are a bit creepy. - Siena Cathedral
The Hellespontine Sibyl (detail) by Neroccio di Bartolomeo. She was known for her prediction of Crucifixion. The wolf and the lion represent Siena and Florence. - Siena Cathedral
A detail of something. I cannot possibly remember where I took this picture. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Pinturicchio's Mount of Wisdom (1505): Crates of Thebes who is throwing jewels into the sea. - Siena Cathedral
The divine interior of the Cathedral. - Siena Cathedral
The frescoes tell the story of cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II). These two are: Pius II canonizes Saint Catherine of Siena in 1461 and Pius II arrives in Ancona to launch the crusade. - Siena Cathedral
Floors in the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
More interesting details on the ceiling of the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
Piccolomini coat of arms: a blue cross with five crescent. - Siena Cathedral
Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library, painted by Pinturicchio (1503). - Siena Cathedral
Some details on the ceiling of Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
A lion on the exterior of the cathedral. I am a bit intrigued by his eyes... - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Lorenzo Rustici (1553-1563). - Loggia della mercanzia
- Palazzo Pubblico
- Fonte Gaia
The first fountain was built in 1342, this one was made in 1419 by Jacopo della Quercia. - Fonte Gaia
The original statues are kept in a museum, these are some (old) copies. - Piazza del Campo
How?!? Mine look nothing like this. - Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The monastery was founded by Charlemagne in 781, but I think this church was built between 1118 and 1260. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The exterior is full of funny creatures. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Capital with Daniel and the Lions by Master von Cabestany (12th century). - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Another lovely creature on the church. - Ospitalità
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
I did say a lot of strange creatures, right? - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The church with the visible apse of the original Carolingian Chapel on the left. - Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Fortress
The Montalcino fortress was built in 1361. - Fortress
The 14th century fortress was expanded under the Medicis. - Oldtimers
There must have been some sort of an old-timer meeting. - Montalcino
View from the fortress - Tuscan countryside
View from the fortress. The other side. - Fortress
The inner courtyard of the fortress - Fortress
- Eroica bike race
We stumbled upon the Eroica Montalcino bicycle race. - Eroica bike race
It kind of looked ... familiar ;-) - Eroica bike race
They were selling old bikes. And retro jerseys. - Eroica bike race
Plenty of retro knitted jerseys. - Church of Sant'Antonio Abate
The church was mentioned already in 1448, but the facade is from the 18th century. - Eroica bike race
There were bikes everywhere. - Local graffiti
Mona Lisa... the Montalcino way. - Montalcino
I don't quite know what to think of this one... - Eroica bike race
Even the town decorations were dedicated to the bicycle race. - Palazzo Comunale
In 1405 Pope Pius II renamed his home town Corsignano to Pienza and rebuilt it in 1459 as an ideal Renaissance town. Once a town, it needed a town hall. - Santa Maria Assunta
The entrance to the church Santa Maria Assunta. - Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful ceiling! - Santa Maria Assunta
Madonna con Bambino e i Santi Agostino, Girolamo, Martino e Nicola by Matteo di Giovanni (1463). - Santa Maria Assunta
The church was built on artificial support, but the support was not solid enough. There are massive cracks in the building. - Santa Maria Assunta
- Santa Maria Assunta
- View from Pienza
- Pienza
- Santa Maria Assunta
Yes, unfortunately there are massive cracks. - Santa Maria Assunta
These stairs go very deep. - Santa Maria Assunta
When repairing the support for the collapsing church, they built a whole maze underneath it. A highlight to visit! - Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful maze! - Model of Pienza
- Palazzo Comunale
The entrance to the Palazzo Comunale. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Un giovane Bacco by Antonio Amorosi (figure) and Giovanni Paolo Spadino (grapes). Around 1725. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Crucifix from the end of the 12th century. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
San Regolo by Domenico di Niccolo "Dei Cori" (1435). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna col Bambino tra i Santi Biagio, Giovanni Battista, Nicola e Floriano by Lorenzo di Pietro - Vecchietta (1465). - Santa Maria Assunta
The cathedral was built in 1462. It is located in Piazza Pio II, but since there was not enough room, they built some additional support for the church. A mistake, as it turned out. - Flower, flower on the wall
Looking up is sometimes worth it. - Porta al Prato
The medieval entrance to the old town. - Palazzo Avignonesi
Built between 1542 and 1572 by Jacopo Barozzi, known as the Vignola. Now a hotel. - Palazzo Bucelli
The bottom part of this palace is decorated with plenty of Etruscan and Roman remains. Some are quite interesting. - Palazzo Bucelli
I wonder what's the story behind these donkey's ears... Disclaimer: they of course may not be donkey's ears at all.