Siena

Our trip to Tuscany was pushed back a weekend by the snow, and plans suffered because of it.  We were originally leaving on a Saturday and returning Monday night, but because it was pushed back the weekend we were going to Venezia, Saturday was unavailable.  We left Sunday morning for an abbreviated trip, Sunday in Siena, Monday in Arezzo, and back to Rome for class Tuesday afternoon. Everyone got on the bus with a feeling of apathy to this trip, cut short so we can get back to Italiaidea, which everyone is sick of attending.

The turn around from Venice to Siena was longer than anticipated, which gave me time to adequately take care of myself before I got on a cramped tour bus for four hours.  I had time for a long shower, breakfast with Maria Luisa, and the rechecking of all my crap.  (I have become to be know as the guy with the backpack) 

It had snowed in Rome while we were in Venice, two to three more inches over 5 hours, on top of the already packed melt ice, so of course there were no buses running.  I make it back with time to school with time to spare, and file on to the bus with all the other zombies.  This bus was a just one collective hangover from Carnevale and the train from frozen hell.  Speaking of which the heat wasn't working on the bus either.  I don't know what it is with Italians and being "senza riscaldamento," but I'm over it. 

Upon our arrival in Siena, we were told to take with us what we would like for the day and of course I wanted all trinkets and doodads for my camera, but I decided to travel light with just my camera body, two lenses, and a cleaning cloth.  We are herded out of the bus, around a huge brick wall along a path covered in packed snow, turned to ice.  (Seriously Italy, get your act together.  If you shovel right after it snows, you wont have to fight ice for two weeks like you are now…).  Thankfully the slip n slide adventure ends with no injuries, and we are greeted with a beautiful view over Siena (Siena is very hilly, so we were really just looking over the valley at the Duomo and S. Dominico).  DDV starts his lecture (because this weekend is just a long/fun field trip) with the phrase, “Siena is a city literally ‘frozen’ in the 14^th century.”  He gets a few chuckles from the frostbitten (exaggeration) students, but it becomes evident this joke was just for his enjoyment, which I then find pretty funny.

Another whirlwind tour through another town on another frigid day.  Sensing a theme?  I am.  But in all seriousness Siena is beautiful.  The Duomo..

Quick aside - Did you know the word “Dome” comes from the Latin “Duomo,” but they do not mean the same thing.  Duomo means “cathedral.”  And is similar in German, “Dom.”  English speakers assumed that all these cathedrals with rounded roofs were called Duomo because of a Dome... But it really just means cathedral.  Man, America just has to ruin everything doesn’t it?

The Duomo in Siena is wicked.  I’ve never been creeped out by a church before, until now; this one gave me the heebie-jeebies, though it is still stunningly beautiful.  On the inside, all of the walls and columns are constructed by alternating slabs of white and green (which looks black) marble, giving it a Beetlejuice-esqe look.

 The Duomo borrows from the Romanesque style but is primarily Gothic.  The main difference is that old Roman churches were built as a journey from the narthex, through the nave, sanctuary, and finishing with salvation in the apse, whereas Gothic churches were rigid in their structure.  There is no movement through the church; instead everyone is called to glorify God from their specific place in society.  There is no moving from the back to front pews, but instead everyone is equal in their call to serve God from where they are.

We had time for lunch before a museum tour, and we found a hole in the wall off the main square Piazza di Campo it was just cold.  The Tuscany region is famous for their fresh, organic foods, and game, but we decided to go with the traditional soup dish Ribollita and we were not disappointed. 

After a tour of the Museo Civico we had some free time, then piled back on to the bus for an hour and a half ride to the hotel in Arezzo.