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SIENA - ITALY
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy.
Siena was an Etruscan settlement and a small Roman town, the seat of a
Christian bishop by the 5th century, but its importance began in the early
12th century, when a self-governing commune replaced the earlier
aristocratic government. The consuls who governed the republic slowly became
more inclusive of the poblani or common people, and the Commune increased
its territory as the surrounding feudal nobles in their fortified castles
submitted to the urban power. Siena's republic, struggling internally
between nobles and the popular party, usually worked in political opposition
to its great rival, Florence, and was in the 13th century predominantly
Ghibelline in opposition to Florence's Guelph position (the backdrop for
Dante's Commedia) .
Its university, famed for its faculties of law
and medicine, was founded in 1203. Siena also rivalled Florence in the arts
throughout the medieval period; the important late medieval or early
renaissance painter Duccio (1253-1319) was a Senese, but worked across the
peninsula, and the mural of "Good Government" by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the
Palazzo Pubblico, or town hall, is a magnificent example of late-Medieval/early
Renaissance-art as well as a representation of the utopia of urban society
as conceived during that period. Siena was devastated by the Black Plague of
1348 and never recovered its earlier glory, losing out to Florence in inter-urban
rivalry. Siena retained its independence in Tuscany until 1557.
Siena's University is still among the most important Italian universities,
and the picturesque city remains an important cultural centre, specially for
humanist disciplines.
Siena's cathedral, begun in the 12th century, is one of the great examples
of Italian gothic architecture. Its main facade was completed in 1380. Its
campanile and baptistry make a fine group. Inside is the famous Gothic
octagonal pulpit by Nicola Pisano (1266 - 1268) supported on lions, and the
labyrinth inlaid in the flooring, traversed by penitents on their knees.
Beneath the Duomo, in the baptistry is the baptismala marvellous font with
bas-reliefs by Donatello, Ghiberti, Jacopo della Quercia and other 15th-century
sculptors. The Museum of the Opera del Duomo contains Duccio's famous
Madonna (1308 - 1311).
The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the town square, is another architectural
treasure and is famous for hosting the Palio.
According to legend, Siena was founded by Senius, son of Remus, who was in
turn the brother of Romulus, after whom Rome was named. Statues and other
artwork depicting a she-wolf suckling the young twins Romulus and Remus can
be seen all over the city of Siena.
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