One city

This is Siena (only one "n").

It IS a tourist destination and a city and not the countryside, but we made an exception!

It is typical and beautiful.

This is the Mangia Tower in the famous Piazza del Campo.

This is the back side of the Siena Cathedral.

We were not the only visitors that day! Or any day, I imagine. For the record, I did not see one Asian.  Inexplicable.

A better view of the Piazza del Campo.

Obviously I did not take this picture, but you may know Siena from this famous horse race, a 700 year old tradition - something to do with the Virgin Mary . . . naturally. Doesn't hailing Mary always conjure up images of horse racing?  Duh.  Anyway, it is apparently very dangerous and I can see why . . .  those are people in the center!

The front of the Siena Cathedral.

These next few pictures . . .

are some nice architectural shots

Jim took of the facade of the church.

By the way, that's all Carrara marble.

I couldn't help taking this picture. It reminded me of Barcelona - an escalator, outside, in the middle of all this history?!  Please don't do this in Venice.

A typical street - notice the green shutters again.

One of my favorite pictures.

Parking and driving in Italy is literally a "free for all".  Rules do not apply.

Park wherever you like.  Parallel park if you want . . . or not.  

Driving is no different. It soon became obvious to us that texting or at the very least, talking on your cell phone and tail-gating while going around steep mountain curves is a requirement.

Unbelievable.