The walk from Monteriggioni to Siena was the longest of the trip, though over mostly flat or rolling terrain. Unbeknownst to us, we were walking just at the start of hunting season and so encountered several groups of hunters and dogs. As well, we came upon a military exercise (no photos allowed!) in a field on the edge of a wood. The photos of the walk are at the end of the Monteriggioni page as well as on this page. Our first priority upon arrival in Siena was to buy gelato!

Famous for the Palio, a horse race without rules among the various contrade (neighborhoods) and run in the central piazza, the Campo, Siena is a beautifully preserved medieval city, and busy with tourists as well as residents. Exuberant members of each contrade continue to party well after the actual races (July 2 and August 16), so the streets were active well into the night. The Palazzo Pubblico contains the Lorenzetti frescoes, “The Effects of Good and Bad Government.”