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SIENA
Siena, exists
today due to its industrial, artisan and relevant tertiary
activity resources, but also definitely has to attribute its
fame to two other factors: it is one of the major centres
of Italian art and secondly, its name is indissolubly connected
to the course of events, twice yearly, in Piazza del Campo
of the famous Palio: the traditional horse race course, which
takes place in the City’s quarters, is a tourist attraction,
but at the same time – is mainly – an event still
profoundly appreciated by its citizens; belonging to the “contradaioli”
and seen as a true and proper ritual.
The manifestation takes
place on 2nd July and 16th August, and consists of the historical
procession (the “Comparsa” –“Appearance”)
through its 17 city wards and the emotional race of horses
mounted by their jockeys; at the winning point, there’s
the marvellous Palio, draped material, painted with holy images
which are then triumphantly carried to the Cathedral.
Erected as a Roman colony by Cesar with its given name of
Sena Iulia, during the 1st Century BC, on the location of
an old Etruscan settlement, it then became a Bishop’s
Seat (6th Century), Longobard territory (7th Century), then
Franco (8th Century), finally ending up as a Free Council
(1147) through Ghelph orientation (League of S. Genesio, 1197).
Adversary to Florence, the City passed to the side of the
Ghibellines after an alliance with Pisa and Pistoia (1228)
together with help offered by Federico II. It won against
Florence at Montaperti (1260), therefore becoming the ruling
City of Tuscany until Angioino intervention (1269), which
re-established Ghelph supremacy. The City fell into decline
due to internal feuds and because of the ascent of Florentine
domination (14th-15th Centuries), it was then conquered after
a long siege (March 1554-April 1555) by Cosimo I de’
Medici and became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, even
though it had the concession to remain an autonomous administration.
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SIENA
Art City
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CHURCH |
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MANGIA TOWER |
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