Spur of the Moment Adventure in Siena

I have been trying to get to Siena since October...a friend and I had a great spur- of- the moment adventure and we had tons of fun in Siena and Florence.  Just when you think you have seen every gorgeous basilica and cathedral...the Duomo and Baptistry took my breath away.  Built in 1215, the Duomo is ornate, but strikingly beautiful.  Even the floor is covered in frescoes and marble inlaid designs!  Many are covered except in the month of October, but it is still amazing to see the stories told through every artistic form within the church.  The Piccolomini Library displays a vivid, colorful selection of frescoes with huge, rare, oversized manuscripts under glass.

In the Church of San Domenico, the head of St. Catherine is preserved and the Museo dell'Opera a Panorama has an extensive and interesting collection of art, artifacts and statues.  The original 20 foot wide, rose shaped, stained glass window from the Duomo is on display and it, too, is brilliant in color and 3D dimension.

I look forward to returning to Siena one day...maybe in July or August when they hold the world famous horse race, the Palio di Siena!  That must be amazing to  watch as the horses race through the quaint, cobblestone shopping district in a display that has been going on since medieval times.

MK in front of the Duomo in Siena

Duomo interior - the marble is striking!

The Piccolomini Library - Breathtaking!

The ceiling in the library

Tuscany view

Inlaid marble floors