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Siena, Italy

Photograph by Fred Blue		 Siena is a city of steep medieval alleys surrounding the Piazza del Campo. The golden age of the city was between 1260 and 1348.

Parking in Italy is sometimes hard to find. Also, it was difficult at times to tell if it was even "legal" to park as the signs were all too confusing. There were subtle differences in the parking signs that indicated it was legal for "residents" with permits to park, but very illegal for "guests" without permits to park. Ultimately we figured this out and luckily we were able to grasp the concept before one, or both, of our cars were towed to the local car impound.

In Siena, we had to park in a public lot that was a very long walk away from the walled city. Siena, like Rome, is built on seven hills and scarcely any street is level. Even though the streets and alleys are narrow and there is a lot of foot traffic, there are police and fire vehicles you must move for. That aspect was a lot like the cross-roads in Dallas during Razzle Dazzle Dallas. 

Photograph by Fred Blue		 Here is a picture of Robert that I took on the steps of the Duomo. Siena's Duomo, built from 1136 to 1382 is one of the most spectacular in Italy. In 1339, the Sienese decided to build a new nave with the desire to build the biggest church in Christendom. This plan faltered, however, when the plague hit the city soon afterward. The unfinished nave now contains a museum.