At the heart of Siena – a city perched among the hills of Tuscany – lies the magnificent shell-shaped square known as Piazza del Campo. This medieval piazza is not only the symbolic and civic center of the city, but also one of the most beautiful and architecturally coherent urban spaces in Europe. With its distinctive downward slope, brick pavement, surrounding historic buildings, and the soaring bell-tower that watches over it all, Piazza del Campo offers a unique blend of history, design, urban poetry, and vibrant living tradition. Over centuries, it has borne witness to markets, civic gatherings, dramatic events, and – twice each year – the incomparable spectacle of the Palio. Whether you stroll its bricks in the soft glow of dawn, sip a drink beside the fountain at dusk, or feel the thunder of horses under the stars, the square remains a living, breathing center of community and memory. Short History of Piazza del Campo Origins and Medieval Transformation The open area that would become Piazza del Campo existed well before the 13th century, on a sloping site where the three hill-communities that formed early Siena converged. It served informally as a gathering ground for local people. Read more [...]
Tag: Jacopo della Quercia in Siena
Fonte Gaia
Fonte Gaia is a monumental fountain in Siena, located in the historical center of the city, in Piazza del Campo. SHORT HISTORY The fountain was inaugurated in 1346, and was met with much joy, hence the name Gaia (joyous). The fountain was supplied with water by a hydraulic system consisting of a tunnel about 30 kilometers long and a large cistern, strengthened during the 15th century by Francesco di Giorgio. The fountain was decorated with a series of sculptural reliefs commissioned in 1409 to Jacopo della Quercia, and completed ten years later, in 1419. The weak local marble used for the construction of the fountain contributed, over time, to the material degradation of the monument. In 1859, it was decided to replace Jacopo’s fountain with a copy made of the more durable Carrara marble, commissioned to the Sienese sculptor Tito Sarrocchi. The new fountain was completed only ten years later. On that same occasion, Fonte Gaia was moved to a more central position in the square, and was protected by a gate, work by the architect Giuseppe Partini. The original reliefs, very damaged, were restored and are now in the Museum of Santa Maria della Scala, after being exhibited Read more [...]
