Torre Del Mangia, Piazza Il Campo, Siena

(Earlier today, we visited Bernini’s Chapel, Piccolomini’s library, Piccolomini’s altar, Outside the Duomo and Piazza Il Campo)

May 28th, 2009

After what Bernini did to me, I was happy we had left ourselves a task as physical as climbing Torre Del Mangia, so drained was I.

Torre Del Mangia

The Tower of the Eater, an homage to the gluttonous Giovanni Di Balduccio, soars 102 meters high. The steps get narrow in many places and then explode into a beautiful bell tower over Sienna.

Il Campo looks so different from the height. The 17 constrade discernible, radiate out under you. The grey strip along the perimeter - an artificial race course on Palio day- becomes apparent – .

The red roofs of Siena spread haphazardly. Yet somewhere in the chaos lies a design that I did not deem necessary to understand. Experiencing it is enough.

Piazza El Camp, where the famous horse race Palio happens

 

(Read on: Back to Volterra after a bit of a local nugget)

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