Siena Sunday

My day today was defined by two places. The Duomo and the Palazzo Pubblico.

My sister and I went to Mass this morning in the absolutely BEAUTIFUL Duomo (got another facade picture of it). Right before Mass, however, the Torre Contrada did a big parade in preparation for the Horse Race, and passed right by the Cathedral - so I got photos.

The Mass was... less than spectacular, being completely honest. I mean, it was glorious to see the processions and the rituals that I've been studying for three years now, but... well, I expected it, but it was all in Italian, and therefore, completely incomprehensible to my English mind. Ah well. It was still really cool to see - and I didn't do the full Mass!

After the Mass ended, my sister went back to the room to sleep off some jet lag, and I studied. Yes. Studied. I went to the Piazza del Campo with some friends for pretty much the entire day, and between a sandwich, an espresso, and a glass of white wine, I finished 2 articles (and am halfway through the last one. Thank god.)

Soon is dinner with Casey and maybe a few friends, but we'll see (communication between the many different phone plans is stupidly difficult), so I'm just chilling in the University residence.

Pictures are below, as per usual (slash from the last post)

Ciao!

Barry

The interior of the Sienese Duomo. Unlike any other Church I've seen - the Sienese seem to preach a fierce independence (black and white are the heraldic colours of the Sienese city-state) that other city-states in Italy have, but... well, from what I've seen in my extremely limited experience, do not have to the same degree

Casey sitting on the Duomo Facade

The Torre Contrada parade in front of the Duomo. Drummers, Flags, and a great procession

The Duomo Facade by Giovanni Pisaro

Palazzo Pubblico. I spent about 6 hours here studying/reading

My university residence!!!!

LOTS OF STUFF

So right now, I am currently writing this blog from a university residence in the glorious town of Siena.

Mind. Blown. I am so ecstatic to be here right now, this is absolutely amazing!

Basically, I discovered this program offered by the University of Toronto that allows students to study abroad for the later part of the summer, so this trip will be essentially for the entire month of August, plus a couple days at the end. I'm doing a Fine Art History course on "The Dawn of the Renaissance", and... well, I haven't even started classes yet, and this is absolutely phenomenal. Just being here is amazing as a history major, and as a person in general.

The entire town of Siena has been "pickled in Medieval Brine" (Rick Steves' words, not mine). Conquered by the Medici family in the 1550s, it has (at least inside the city walls, where the University is located) maintained its unique medieval town appeal - and is incredible to just walk around in. The city itself is divided into 17 [i]contradi[/i], or neighborhoods (the residence we're in is in the snail contrada, or the [i]chiocciola[/i]) centred around the Piazza del Campo, the main square of the city.

Which is what we did last night. Arriving at like, 6:30 into the student residence, my sister and I (who are roommates) unpacked, and went to a contrada dinner where they were raising money to support the Shell contrada, or the Nicchio. After dinner, we just bought a bottle of red wine and wandered the city, getting wonderfully lost in this medieval town. It's amazing - and somehow we made it in past the curfew.

Today was a meet-and-greet with the other participants, as well as a walking tour of Siena. We saw the Cathedral (Duomo), the Basilica of San Domenico (with St. Catherine's relics), as well as a ton of other stuff that will make living here for the next couple of weeks so incredibly amazing.

I know there's a lot of descriptive words that I'm using, but it's well worth it. I highly recommend coming here - the city itself is stupafacente (amazing!)

Anyways, there's another contrada party tonight, so I'm going to end this here. Photos are below!

More info on the contrade of Siena: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrade_of_Siena

Arrivederci!
Barry

This is the particular Contrada's flag that we're in. Notice the snail. And the colours! Chiocciola!!!

 The Palazzo Pubblico (Public Palace) in the Piazza del Campo - the heart of the city of Siena

The Duomo - Santa Maria Assunta - and its gorgeous facade. Note the white and black marble - the colours of Siena

Siena legend states that after Romulus defeated Remus regarding who owns Rome, Remus came to Etruria and his son, Senius, founded Siena. Hence, the "she-wolf" nursing two boys, pretty much exactly the same as Rome, also represents Siena - although the Sienese lupa is facing forward, instead of behind.

Harry Potter in Italian. Yeeeeah.

The Duomo taken from the backyard of the San Domenico Basilica. I didn't get a facade of the San Domenico, because I simply couldn't find it (there's a gate blocking it off). There'll be pictures when I actually get a chance to go inside.