Siena was an ancient Etruscan town and in the Middle Ages the great rival of Florence until its fall in the XVIth century. That was the end of a dream and Siena kept its glorious memories inside its walls. Walking through its streets, its alleys and squares, you feel an extraordinary unique atmosphere, which finds its height with the Palio, all Sienese and which its inhabitants will not share with anybody.
The Sienese cuisine offers specialities of ancient times such as Panforte, Ricciarelli, Cavallucci, while the wines from the surrouding hills go with the tasty dishes of the best Tuscany tradition.
Monteriggioni is the most charming fortified village in Toscany. Its oval shape is made of 570 mt. of mighty walls and 14 square towers which are nowadays partially cut off. Monteriggioni was built by Sienese between 1212 and 1219 in order to defend their own lands. It only has two entries: one to the east towards Florence, call S.Giovanni, the other to the west towards Siena, called Franca or Romea.
Nowadays the Castle of Monteriggioni is well-kept with a lot of small shops that creates the atmosphere of an ancient but still live place. In this regard it is interesting to see the medieval feast which is celebrated every year during the second week of July where one can really feel and enjoy the medieval atmosphere among craftsmen at work, minstrels, acrobats, maids and jesters, spiced wines and old recipe food, and also Monteriggioni scudo as money.
Colle di Val d'Elsa has medieval origins. On the upper part one can observe the ruins of the XII century walls and the tower house where Arnolfo di Cambio seems to have been born. Sant'Agostino church, designed by Sangallo, is also interesting as well as the Duomo (cathedral) in Baroque style and the Bandinelli Archeological Museum which preserves interesting Etruscan finds coming from Monteriggioni Necropolis.
Castellina in Chianti was a fortified village which was part of the Lega del Chianti. The Fortress with its mighty fourteenth-century embattled tower and Ugolini Palace (XVI cent.) are interesting buildings.
S. Gimignano is still surrounded by thirteenth-century walls and thanks to its eleven towers it preserves its undamaged appearance of a medieval commune. Collegiata (XII cent) is the prestigious monument in S. Gimignano where Jacopo Della Quercia, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Barna Da Siena's works are preserved. It is also interesting to see Podestà Palace, Civic Museum inside Palazzo del Popolo and S. Jacopo church which probably belonged to Templar Order.
