Siena

After the bustle of Florence we hoped that Siena would be a little less busy today and it was! It is a fair way by train to Siena. First we caught a train towards Florence to Empoli which takes half an hour. Then we changed to a single track branch line for the one hour trip to Siena. We thought we had a half hour wait for the connection both ways but there are tight changes that we made each way!

On the way we get the slow train which is modern diesel three car set. Sun was all wrong for this shot!

Siena Station - there seemed to be a waterless water feature in the foreground!

Siena is an old city on a hill but the station is at the foot of the hill. Opposite the station is a shopping centre and out of the back of this centre is a series of escalators and moving walkways up to the city.

Looking back down towards the Station - escalators are in the structure!

We then walked the short distance to one of the gates in the wall

and then along the narrow streets

to the central 'square' called Il Campo. This is famous for having Il Palio, a horse race in July when 60,000 are in the square!

Steps down to il Campo

il Campo using our drone!

Although il Campo is traffic free the streets are not: it would be so much nicer with no traffic and parked cars!

We sat in the sun in il Campo having our croissants liberated from breakfast (we will deny it in court) and a drink. Then onwards to the impressive Duomo which was built in 13th century to out Duomo Florence. It was going to be much bigger but they had to settle for what is still a grand building. Some of the works for the larger building still stand!

Duomo Library

Redundant Duomo which was never completed

So after a ham and cheese slice on pizza bread - eaten on a bench in the Bus Station

 we head of back to the Railway Station.

This time we get the fast train which is an older set of diesel hauled (or actually pushed) carriages. We are surprised when at around 2pm a horde of school children join the train!

Back to Pisa for a well deserved rest and a cup of tea before dinner. We are staying opposite the station which is about a mile from the Duomo and Leaning Tower where all the tourist restaurants are. We have found a different restaurant every night and this evening we went to the poshest one yet.

We were persuaded to have the local special of T bone steak: and we were presented with this huge steak to share. we surprised ourselves by eating most of this but the cost was a bit of a shock!

And finally here is an explanation of an Italian road sign: this one means that cars - and especially Police cars - only drive at you at 20 mph!