Catholics around the world eagerly await for the Christmas period to celebrate the most festive holiday of the year, and food is a big component of that celebration. From Polish kolaczki to Spanish polvorones, the Catholic world counts on a diverse and vast selection of Christmas treats. In the Italian city of Siena, Tuscany, Christmas would not be...
READ MORECenturies ago, a marble statue stood in a cult sanctuary. Under his watchful stone eyes, worshippers visited and left offerings in the thermal spring that flowed through the center of the temple. Eventually, times changed. The once-revered deity was dismembered and left in the hot muddy waters. Until now. Archaeologists were excavating the ruins of...
READ MOREIn the charming Tuscan countryside, in the province of Siena, stands the imposing Abbey of San Galgano, a place that fascinates with its mystical beauty and legends that surround it. Among the many elements that attract attention is the sword in the stone. We explore where the homeless church is located, the history and secrets of the abbey, trying...
READ MOREIf you’re visiting Tuscany you certainly won’t want to miss the important cities that are rich in history, where it seems that little has changed in the last 500 years and the Renaissance seems as alive today as it was then. Indeed, if you’re in Florence on June 24, you may feel like a time traveler as the city honors San Giovanni, the patron saint...
READ MOREMarvelous Medieval borgoes, lush nature that transforms into a dreamlike landscape, with hot springs immersed in the Tuscan countryside – these are the typical traits of the Province of Siena. Nature, art, relaxation, beauty and wellness combine to create the magic formula that has long attracted innumerable tourists to the most exclusive spots in ...
READ MOREThe cathedral of Siena, in Italy’s Tuscany region, is renowned for its spectacular 14th-century mosaic floor. But due to its fragility, the masterpiece is protected from visitor foot traffic by fibreboard panels most of the year. For the next two weeks, however, visitors to the religious site will be able to get a rare view of the 56-panel marble f...
READ MOREIt’s hard to refrain from that involuntary gasp of awe and wonder when first stepping through a tawny stone portal into Siena’s Piazza del Campo. Magnificent medieval buildings rim the fan-shaped piazza and its hubbub of lively outdoor cafés. Almost instantly the eye is drawn to the flooring – an outlay of nine massive triangular brick segments sep...
READ MOREYou probably haven’t ever heard of Luca Cava. Most visitors to Italy are eager to visit the country’s iconic monuments – the Colosseum, a national landmark in Rome; hunky David, Michelangelo’s masterpiece in Florence; and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. But in a country with so many layers of history,...
READ MOREWelcome to Siena, where time seems to pause and history whispers through every winding alley. In this extensive guide, we invite you to join us on an extraordinary journey through Siena's rich history, secret treasures, and tantalizing flavors, as shared with you by locals like Marco, Isabella, and Giovanni. Marco, a passionate participant in many...
READ MOREIn the heart of the Chianti lands, among green hills and postcard landscapes, Siena enchants for the value of its artistic, historical and gastronomic heritage. Founded by Romans in the second century BC, the city has retained its medieval appearance characterized by narrow and winding streets, squares and towers: it is surrounded by walls in which...
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