SIENA FOLLOWING PISA IT WAS TIME TO MOVE OUR HOTEL BASE FROM MANAROLA TO SIENA IN THE HILLS OF TUSCANY. ANOTHER TRAIN TRIP, PERHAPS TWO HOURS THIS TIME, AND WE WERE THERE.  IN SIENA WE STAYED AT THE HOTEL CHUISARELLI. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM SIENA, A CITY OF TOWERS. THE NEXT FEW PICTURES WILL SHOWCASE THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL PLAZA CALLED THE PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, WIDELY REGARDED AS THE FINEST MEDIEVAL SQUARE IN EUROPE.  THE ABOVE PHOTO SHOWS THE MANGIA TOWER HOLDING REIGN OVER THE PIAZZA. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TWICE A YEAR A HORSE RACE IS HELD HERE, RIGHT AROUND THE OUTER PERIMETER OF THE PIAZZA (WHERE THE GRAY PAVING STONES ARE IN THE PICTURES BELOW).  THERE WILL BE ONE HORSE FOR EACH OF THE CITY'S CONTRADE (DISTRICTS OR NEIGHBORHOODS).  THE HONOR OF THE CONTRADE IS AT STAKE, THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.  FOR LOTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RACE VISIT THIS EXCELLENT WEBSITE. NEXT, A VISIT TO THE MAGNIFICENT DUOMO OF SIENA, SAID TO BE EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE DUOMO IN THE MUCH LARGER CITY OF FLORENCE. Left and above are floor sections Above is a painted ceiling, the three photos below are painted walls A VISIT TO SAN GIMIGNANO IS COMING ON THE NEXT PAGE