- Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà
A lantern in the entrance hall of the old town hall. It was super hot and sunny, so vaulted entrances like this are a fine invention. Rebuilt in 1239 and enlarged in 1337. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
Capella di Santa Caterina. In the centre, there is Saint Catherine's head. Yes, her head. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
There was a wedding planned so we weren't allowed to enter the church. - Hesapci Sk., Antalya
- Via San Giovanni
A street lamp just behind the 13th century Porta San Giovanni. - Torre del Diavolo
San Gimignano is known for its medieval towers. This one is called Devil's because ... apparently ... the owner got home one day finding the tower taller than it was before. Riiiight. All the balconies and terraces are now missing. - Palazzo Comunale
The palace was built in between 1289 and 1298. The tower (Torre Grossa) from 1300 is the tallest in town (54 m). - Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà
Interesting coat of arms on the town hall walls. - Torre Rognosa and Torre Chigi
The tall one (52 m) is Rognosa (1200) and the small one is Chigi (1280). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The last judgement by Taddeo di Bartolo (1393). The lower part is Saint Sebastian by Benozzo Gozzoli (1465). - San Gimignano
View from the park of Rocca di Montestaffoli, a 14th century fortress. - San Gimignano
View over the towers of San Gimignano. There are 14 of them in total. - Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo with the dome and one of the two twin towers (Torri dei Salvucci). - Piazza della Cisterna
This 13th century square was at a crossroad: Via Francigena and the road connecting Pisa-Siena. The cistern is from 1287. - Piazza della Cisterna
- Palazzo Comunale
The courtyard of Palazzo Comunale was built in 1323. The cistern was arranged in 1361. - San Gimignano
- Siena Cathedral
View of the Cathedral from Via Bruno Bonci. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
The church dates from 1226-1265, but was enlarged in the 14th century. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
It does look strangely empty. - Palazzo Tolomei
Palazzo was built in 1270-1275. It used to be a bank... and it still is. - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Pastorino dei Pastorini (1549-1552). - 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. - Siena Cathedral
She-wolf of Siena, surrounded with emblems of confederate cities, dating from 1373. - Siena Cathedral
One of the scenes on pulpit: Massacre of the Innocents - 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
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
Piccolomini coat of arms: a blue cross with five crescent. - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Lorenzo Rustici (1553-1563). - Palazzo Pubblico
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The monastery was founded by Charlemagne in 781, but I think this church was built between 1118 and 1260. - Ospitalità
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The church with the visible apse of the original Carolingian Chapel on the left. - 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
A wonderful ceiling! - Santa Maria Assunta
- Santa Maria Assunta
- Santa Maria Assunta
When repairing the support for the collapsing church, they built a whole maze underneath it. A highlight to visit! - Model of Pienza
- 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). - 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 Cervini
- Some tall buildings
These are some tall buildings! - Italian charm
This is a charming and inviting entrance. - Palazzo Comunale
Built in 1440 by Michelozzo, inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
The cathedral was 'finished' in 1680. Although it was never actually finished. I would assume that in 1680 they just gave up and proclaimed it finished. - Palazzo Comunale
Now this was the highlight of my trip: climbing possibly the tiniest stairs I've ever seen. And I have climbed some dodgy towers in my life. - Palazzo Comunale
And the higher you go, the smaller they become. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
View of the cathedral. - San Biagio
But the view is fantastic! This is San Biagio, built in 1518-1540 by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. - Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi
Piazza Grande in rain. And Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi (left) built in the 16th century by either Antonio da Sangallo the Elder or possibly by Jacopo Barozzi from Vignola. - Palazzo Comunale
I had to agree to so many terms and conditions before I was allowed to climb ;-) - Basilica di San Lorenzo
Here used to be a super-old church (from 393), then another 11th century romanesque one, and in 1470 this one was completed. - View from Piazzale Michelangelo
- View from Piazzale Michelangelo