"its a small world" series presents: Siena and Pisa
but first of all, an advertisement: my little princess jasmine! doesnt she look like some manga princess from ancient japan?
but well, back to the program. Siena, (often mispelled "Sienna") may be the best-preserved medieval city in Italy, thanks to its conquest by Florence nearly 500 years ago. While the Florentines were busy launching the Renaissance, the Senese played the role of country cousins--and as a result, Siena (or at least the walled portion of the city) still looks much as it did in the Middle Ages.
Although numerous guidebooks have advised that planning Siena as a day trip from Florence (which most travellers do) is a huge mistake, we've seen more than enough in our few hours there. I guess we were pretty much done with (and tired of) churches and duomos by that time, but the infamous torture museum (Medieval Criminal and Torture Museum aka Museo della Tortura e di Criminologia Medievale (pics)) was definitely an eye opener. definitely go check out the several dark underground tunnels!!!
and of course, the best part of the trip was bumping into RJ and KL at the museum, sharing a long chatty pizza dinner and enjoying authentic italian coffee at a fine italian coffee house.
and fate would have it that we meet again in florence, with both groups intending to make another short hop to the beautiful pisa to see the one and only famous architectural mistake in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. and so, here we go together again!
Beautiful Pisa, (almost) untouched by the crazy crowds of Roma or the modern skyscrapers of Milan.
Scenic, to say the least.
And of course, how can we leave before taking corny shots with THE tower...
but well, back to the program. Siena, (often mispelled "Sienna") may be the best-preserved medieval city in Italy, thanks to its conquest by Florence nearly 500 years ago. While the Florentines were busy launching the Renaissance, the Senese played the role of country cousins--and as a result, Siena (or at least the walled portion of the city) still looks much as it did in the Middle Ages.
Although numerous guidebooks have advised that planning Siena as a day trip from Florence (which most travellers do) is a huge mistake, we've seen more than enough in our few hours there. I guess we were pretty much done with (and tired of) churches and duomos by that time, but the infamous torture museum (Medieval Criminal and Torture Museum aka Museo della Tortura e di Criminologia Medievale (pics)) was definitely an eye opener. definitely go check out the several dark underground tunnels!!!
and of course, the best part of the trip was bumping into RJ and KL at the museum, sharing a long chatty pizza dinner and enjoying authentic italian coffee at a fine italian coffee house.
and fate would have it that we meet again in florence, with both groups intending to make another short hop to the beautiful pisa to see the one and only famous architectural mistake in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. and so, here we go together again!
Beautiful Pisa, (almost) untouched by the crazy crowds of Roma or the modern skyscrapers of Milan.
Scenic, to say the least.
And of course, how can we leave before taking corny shots with THE tower...
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