July's Palio

Ladys and gentlemen, on Monday the July's palio race is on! I'll be off for it, planning to take my camera set for a run, this year. Remember that the best place to see it is inside the square. Entering is not crazy as most people expect, and you will mostly feel the Palio trough the emotions of the Siena people standing in there.
You can also watch the run in streaming following webcasters listed on this page.
More details on the Palio in English on this link and info for the specific run on this other page.
May the Dragon win!!
If you need directions or hints or want to meet in Siena, post a message!

Breakfast in Florence

Let's face it: Even if you are looking for Siena, you will spend some time in Florence, sooner or later. As I am staying inf Florence for a while for work, I am been screening a few famous Bars for Italian breakfast, that means Brioches + Cappuccino standing at the bar. Here are my findings (and I welcome yours).

An option: Renting rooms in private houses

Recently I discovered a new way to stay: Especially if you are planning to stay longer, it may be interesting to consider to rent a room in a bigger private apartment. I discovered a web site that provides a link between who offers and who searches: Easystanza. Here is a direct link to rooms available in Siena.

Agriturismo in Siena

Yes, you understand well: A farm house in Siena. If you like staying in the country but being just at 3 km from Siena I recommend "Il Fullino Nero". I never happened to stay there but I went to know the owners and I visited the place, very well restored. For more details visit their nice web site that can say it all. Here is the link! Enjoy!

Monteriggioni, The Walled Town

If I would have to indicate the top ten of my favorite places on Earth, I would have difficulties to come up with the selection, but Monteriggioni would be one of them.

This walled town, just Nord than Siena, always impressed me, and when I really want to impress somebody, even who is difficult to impress, I always get a "wow" entering through the gate of Monteriggioni.

Monteriggioni has been build in 1213 and for centuries it has been the defensive outpost of the Republic of Siena against the Republic of Florence. It has been won by Florence just in the year 1554 due to an act of betrayal of the captain of the garrison stationed in Monteriggioni, in this way ending the Siena Republic in 1555.

On July 6-7-8 and 13-14-15 this year in Monteriggioni will be held the the annual medieval festival with historical reenactment of the battle.