Siena in Tuscany

When we left Rome we took the train to Chuisi and then a bus to Siena which gave us a lot of opportunity to see the beautiful countryside. It is an agricultural area filled with rolling hills, cyprus trees, grapes, sunflowers and artists. Before 1348, Siena was a major city with a strong financial and trade center. After the bubonic plague swept through Europe, the city lost a significant portion of its population and the city never recovered to the status they had been before - comparable with Florence, Venice and Paris. The medieval city sits atop a hill with the large main square of Il Campo as the central point. The city tower and city hall dominate this area. The nearby main promenade has a variety of restaurants and shops but I found the shops in alleyways to be the most fascinating. The Duomo cathedral was extremely ornate on the outside. The inside had wide expanses of flooring that was inlaid and carved stone of biblical scenes. We are staying at Palazzo Bruchi B&B which is a 17th century villa overlooking the countryside but close to the city center. It has a tranquil interior courtyard, ample breakfast each morning and pleasant surroundings. There is a kitchenette down the hall from our room that we have been preparing sandwiches, soup and salads with produce we get from the local mini grocery and fruit stands. Needless to say, I am still throughly enjoying the gelato!