That structure is the municipal building, or Palazzo Communale in Italian. Here's what the same place looked like in Sept. 2009:
The other side of Piazza del Campo:
This well-lit tree is in front of Palazzo Salimbeni, headquarters of the bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena. The statue is of Sallustio Bandini, champion of economic freedom.
Siena is known for its horse race or palio, held twice each summer in the Piazza del Campo. The city's neighborhoods, called contrade, compete against each other in the race. Each contrada has its own symbol, flag and colors.
Back in September, the palio was long over, but the flags were still flying.
S identified with the Contrada della Selva, whose symbol is a rhinoceros, a creature which once charged her. (She escaped.)
A symbol of one of the other contrade is the turtle.
Siena is also famous for its cathedral, one of the largest in Italy. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the September sunlight:
A December detail of the creatures emerging from the facade:
S examines the marble floor design outside the cathedral.
Siena is an interesting and pleasant town for walking. There are lots of pretty little streets and alleys.
Lots of shops have appealing displays.
I'm not so sure about this ham display. It doesn't look so nice with the skin on.
We saw some posters about "the great and magnanimous." Featured luminaries include Roman emperors Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius, Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold the Second, and Nelson Mandela.
