El most beautiful corner of Siena, the very beautiful medieval city of the Toscana, riding a Italy, is, without a doubt, the Piazza del Campo.
This is the main square of the city, and one of the largest squares remaining in Europe from medieval times.
I will tell you that this is the square where the famous Palio Festival, one of the main festive celebrations that take place in Italy every year.
All the information in detail
Curiosities history of Piazza del Campo
In the 13th century, the place where the Piazza del Campo It was occupied by a market.
When you get to visit it you will see that it has a peculiar shell-shaped configuration, with an inclination from top to bottom towards the Mangia Tower, the large building that presides over it.
In the mid-14th century the square was paved with red bricks, so that to maintain its inclined shell configuration, up to nine delimitations were made on the aforementioned pavement.
Contrary to what was common at the time, in which great lords built towers to show their power, the palatial buildings that surround the Piazza del Campo They have the same height showing a very uniform front.
This uniformity is shown not only in their similar height, but also the use of the same type of brick for their construction.
Places to see in Piazza del Campo in Siena
The first objective of your Siena visit should be to head directly towards the Piazza del Campo, where I tell you that you will surely be enthralled by its grandeur and the medieval atmosphere that still exists.
You will find a completely pedestrian plaza, with its characteristic shell shape, so that on its west side is the building of the Siena Town Hall with its imposing tower.
Siena Public Palace
Of all the palatial buildings that surround the square, is precisely the aforementioned town hall, known as the Public Palace, the building that will undoubtedly catch your attention the most.
Mangia Tower in Piazz del Campo in Siena
In addition to the municipal headquarters, this building houses the Civic museum, but it is its magnificent bell tower known as the Mangia Tower, the most significant corner.
If you are interested, I will tell you that you can climb to the top of this imposing tower, which I have pending for my next Siena visit.
Chapel of the Virgin in Piazza del Campo
Next to the municipal building is the corner of the Chapel of the Virgin, built in 1348 in late gothic style to celebrate the end of the black plague epidemic that devastated the city.
Gaia Fountain in Piazza del Campo in Siena
Another most notable corner of this beautiful Tuscan square is the Gaia Fountain, which was built in 1419.
Of note are the bas-relief sculptures that decorate three sides of the fountain, which is a common place where tourists take photos.
The current sculptures date from 1866 and replaced the original ones from the early XNUMXth century.
Finally, another time to appreciate the charm of this square will be at dusk, when we visitors crowd into the numerous terraces of bars and restaurants that line the square.
Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy dinner to continue enjoying this beautiful square, which will surely remain forever in your memory.
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