Located in the heart of Tuscany, the city of Siena is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Characterized by its medieval architecture and breathtaking countryside, Siena looks like a city frozen in time. The city’s cathedral is one of Italy’s most successful expressions of Gothic architecture, while its “Palazzo Pubblico” has served as city hall for the past seven centuries. In the first half of the 14th century, Siena was Florence’s main political, economic and artistic rival and artists such as Duccio, Simone Martini, and Ambrogio Lorenzetti were members of one of Europe’s most important schools of painting. Today, Siena is probably best known for the Palio – a biannual horse race run in the medieval Piazza del Campo amongst the various neighborhoods of Siena known as “contrade.” Buona visita!