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In front of the world's oldest operating bank, as of 2014, in Siena - Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena - in operation since 1472!
The City of Siena prospered as a trading post after the ancient Roman Highways Via Aurelia and Via Cassia came under the control of the Barbarians after the decline of the Roman Empire and made it difficult to use for business. The Christian Pilgrims to Rome also used Siena as a stopping point and added to making Siena boom town and it remained so for centuries. |
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Piazza Del Campo - The city center of Siena. The city square was designed neatly to drain rain water in the 14th century and we saw it work very well in the 21st century!
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The drain at the Siena public square.
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The magnificent Siena Cathedral - features art work by Michelangelo, Donatello and Bernini. The Sienese were were rich and so could afford to hire the best artists to decorate their beloved Cathedral!
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Stained Glass art of the Last supper in the Siena Cathedral.
Stained glass windows became a specialty in Renaissance Europe construction because it used natural light to provide illumination inside the building, protected the interiors from the elements, provided an opportunity to showcase art and inspire people into prayer with religious symbolism. |
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The ceiling of the Siena cathedral is spectacular - representing scenes from the bible.
Imagine the expressions of the awestruck visitors to this church in the times when there was no modern technology. |
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