Siena. Stop on a super deluxe camping site, Colleverde, a few miles outside the city. The most expensive place we’ve stopped, but probably the best for the quality of the facilities.
Bus into Siena. Explore what is a regarded as a “must see” in the guide books. Certainly it’s worth visiting for the Duomo alone. This shimmering cathedral dominates the square, with it’s white and black (it looks more of a dark grey to me) banded marble construction. There are statues of saints and grotesques hanging all over the facade. Internally the wow factor
continues with fabulous frescos. We were moved by a series of very large marble floor illustrations, including a particularly harrowing vision of Herod’s army (need to check this though) slaughtering babies, women and children. Graphic.
We sat in the Piazza del Campo and paid the earth for a gin and tonic. But what a view. Out over the huge square towards the Torre del Maggia, a majestic 100m plus tower.
Much of our enjoyment of this city was wandering around the small steep streets, people watching and looking for cats and dogs to tickle.
We made an elementary mistake of eating at a restaurant not far from the tourist hot spot, and paid for it, literally.
Something that must be mentioned is our mad ride back to the camp on the bus. Small vehicle, packed to the gunwales, being thrown around in peak time traffic by a sulky driver. Him on his mobile probably arguing with his girlfriend. Driving one handed. It was an experience – that’s what these things are called when you survive!