Palio.
The weather was foul, so we caught the bus to Siena and will take an extra rest day.
Today's date: 3.10.20, 4.10.20
Weather: stormy, sunny
Steps: 12,488 , 15,143
Distance: n/a
Climbing: n/a
It rained all Saturday, but we stepped out for a walk and to get some provisions. We got a stamp at the tourist office and a great guidebook on the architecture and bloody history of Siena.
The city is very compact and is clearly defined by its walls which follow an eccentric path up and down between the hills of the City. The streets are narrow and have very consistent style, all seeming to date from the middle ages.
The city was really busy with tourists, remarkably so, given the absence of anyone from overseas.
The centre of the city is the Piazza del Campo which is where they stage the Palio horse race. It is surprisingly compact and the area is sloped in a way that you don't appreciate unless you are there. The idea of horse racing in the square is terrifying.
The bells of the city from the Piazza del Campo. The other sound is a passing shopping trolley.
We had supper at home with wine from San Gimignano.
Sunday was much brighter with clear blue skies. We wandered further away from the main sights through the Orto de Pecci which has an urban farm, complete with donkey.
We walked back from Porta Romana, past a banquet being held in the street by the contrada le torre. We had lunch in Piazza del Mercato, below the Torre di Mangia.
Later in the day we walked across to Fortezza Medicea which gave us a great view back to the city and to the house where we are staying.
A quiet night as the bus that takes us back to the beginning of the stage leaves early.
Casa Siena Vallepiatta - Siena
Our base for 3 days. A spacious apartment as we have guests tonight. The apartment is on a narrow street about 50 m from the Duomo. We can see Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico from the bedroom.
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