A few words about Siena

Siena (the famous ancient Saena Julia) is situated in central Italy. It is the capital of Siena Province which is a part of Tuscany region. Nowadays the city is a main tourist center and a market of the wine and marble produced in the area.
It has exited the high tourist's interest being maybe the best preserved medieval city in Italy, especially speaking about the walls and gates that surround it. It looks like a completely intact Gothic city which inner core is usually closed to traffic. Siena is also admired to be the most beautiful town by its own citizens with unique identity and atmosphere. In this connection people who ever visited it often define it" as a sort of place you can always go to if you like to enjoy comfort, secure and piece."
Historically, Siena was an Etruscan settlement and a small Roman town. According to the legend it was founded by Senius son of Remus, who was in turn the twin- brother of Romulus, after whom Rome was named. That is why all over the town is possible to be seen statues and other artwork depicting a she-wolf suckling the young twins Romulus and Remus.
During the 5th century here was the seat of a Christian bishop. However, Siena's importance dates from 12th century when it became an independent commune. In the 16th century Siena was subjugated by its old rival Florence. Nevertheless it sounds strange it is the fact which helps Siena to stay a unique monument of the Middle Ages. Siena retained its independence in Tuscany until 1557.
The city is really packed with museums, churches galleries and monuments which are worth to be seen. The whole of it is built around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and is devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape.
It is the place where visitors from all over the world are also able to experience The Palio delle contrade, a horse race which held twice each year on the town square being by itself another architectural treasure.
Siena is also the home of Siena jazz School which hosts the summer Jazz Concert. Here is the place to remind that the city is famous for being an important cultural and university center, as well. Among of its noteworthy institutions is the University of Siena, with faculties of medicine and law, which was founded in 1203 and still remains one of the most important Italian Universities. One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Italy is situated here. It is Siena's cathedral the Duomo, whose main façade was completed in 1380. Its campanile and baptistery make a fine group. Inside is the famous Gothic octagonal pulpit by Nicola Pisano supported by lions, and the labyrinth inlaid in the flooring, traversed by penitents on their knees. Beneath the Duomo, in the the baptistery is the baptismala marvelous font with bas-reliefs by Donatello, Ghiberti, Jacopo della Quercia and other 15th century sculptors.
Museum of the Opera del Duomo contains Duccio's famous Madonna, for instance.
Let us not forget the museum Encoteca Italiana. In fact it is a" wine library" or "wine archive" of more than 1,000 Tuscan vintages. Everyone can sample and buy wines here, browse through wine publications and admire the vaulted cellars, corridors and armories of Siena's 15th Century Medici fortress.
So you are welcome in Siena to be a part of its rich, vivid and charming life. Enjoy yourself here!